Work in General Santos City Hall suspended due to 6.2-magnitude quake

STRONG QUAKE. Mall maintenance workers attend to a damaged cladding structure torn after a strong morning temblor hit General Santos City on Wednesday, Dec 16. The magnitude 6.2 quake with epicenter in Sarangani town, Davao Occidental province, was also felt in nearby towns and provinces. No one was reported injured in the incident that came a year after a series of quakes struck Mindanao in 2019. Photo by Rommel G. Rebollido

KORONADAL CITY –– General Santos City Mayor Ronnel Rivera has ordered the temporary suspension of work in the local government until 1 p.m. today after a 6.2-magnitude quake that struck off Sarangani town, Davao Occidental at 7:21 a.m. Wednesday.

In an advisory released through the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, Rivera said the temporary work suspension covers all local government facilities.

GENSAN TEMBLOR. A strong morning temblor rips a cladding structure at the facade of SM City mall in General Santos City on Wednesday, Dec 16. The magnitude 6.2 quake with epicenter in Sarangani town, Davao Occidental province, was also felt in nearby towns and provinces. No one was reported injured in the incident that came a year after a series of quakes struck Mindanao in 2019. Photo by Rommel G. Rebollido

Rivera said the suspension would give time for the City Engineer’s Office to inspect the structural integrity of government facilities and other vital public infrastructure in the city, the economic hub of the Soccsksargen region.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said it recorded the tectonic quake at 86 kilometers southeast of the island-municipality of Sarangani. It has a depth of 16 km.

The Phivolcs said it was expecting damage due to the magnitude of the tremor.

The reported intensities were:

Intensity V – General Santos City
Intensity IV – Kiamba, Alabel, Maasim, Glan, Malungon and Malapatan in Saranggani province; Lebak in Sultan Kudarat; Datu Blah Sinsuat in Maguindanao; Koronadal City,
Polomolok, Tampakan and Tupi in South Cotabato
Intensity III – Maitum in Sarangani; Cotabato City in Maguindanao; Davao City; Kidapawan City in North Cotabato; Tantangan and Santo Nino in South Cotabato;
Intensity II – Columbio and Tacurong City in Sultan Kudarat; Magpet in North Cotabato
Intensity I – Zamboanga City

Edited by LZB