Magnitude 5.5 quake leaves 51 people hurt in Surigao del Sur
At least 51 people were injured and a still undetermined number of buildings, homes and other structures were damaged in Surigao del Sur following a 5.5-magnitude earthquake that struck the province before dawn on Saturday.
Liza Mazo, regional director of the Office of Civil Defense-Caraga, said many of the injured and damage to properties were reported in the towns of Madrid, Lanuza, Cantilan, Carmen and Carrascal at the northern tip of the province where the epicenter was located.
In Madrid, 25 residents suffered injuries and were brought to the district hospital for treatment, said Adel de Guzman, chief of Surigao del Sur’s Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.
Caught off guard
The hospital itself was damaged as portions of its roof collapsed, De Guzman added.
“[The victims] were caught off guard. We have reports of injuries caused by toppled cabinets, broken glass and collapsing walls,” De Guzman said, noting that most of those injured were still in bed when the quake hit.