Negros Oriental Earthquake: A Review

Date: February 6, 2012 Monday
Time: 11:49 A.M.
Location: 09.97˚N, 123.14˚E - 5 km N 41˚W of Tayasan, Negros Oriental
Dept of Focus (Km): 010
Origin: Tectonic
Magnitude (Ms): 6.9



Negros Island particularly in the Oriental side was badly shook by 6.9 earthquake that had changed the terrains of the affected places. Reports claimed that damaged to agricultural sector reaches to P121 Million.

News highlights:

• Local officials said that at least 52 people were killed when a 6.9-magnitude earthquake hit Negros and Cebu provinces shortly before noon Monday, causing landslides and huge cracks on highways, and violently shaking buildings, officials said.
• A three-story building collapsed, while seven bridges were rendered impassable, they further reported.
• In Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental, at least 29 people were feared dead following a landslide in Barangay (village) Planas, Mayor Ernesto Reyes said in a phone interview. He said there could be more fatalities in other barangays.
• 30 people are still missing in Planas, Guihulngan City and 20 others in Jimalalud.
• 40 people were reported wounded and undergoing treatment at the Guihulngan Hospital.
• In Barangay Solonggon, La Libertad, 60 houses vanished due to a landslide as a result of the earthquake, while 29 houses were affected also by a landslide in Planas.

The breakdown of the fatalities is as follows: 21 in Planas; 5 in Poblacion Guihulngan; 2 in Martilo, La Libertad; 1, Magsaysay, Guihulngan; 1, St. Francis, Guihulngan; 3, Himalalud; 2, Tayasan; 11, La Libertad; 1, Bindoy; and 1 in Bais City.



The whole island was badly shaken with most of the biggest damages came from Negros Oriental. Classes were declared suspended and offices and malls were closed.

Local officials especially in Dumaguete City conducted an evacuation to those living near the shorelines while the Tsunami Alert Level was pegged at number 2. A massive panic of the residents occurred from the affected places when the incident happened and some got buried by landslides especially in the northern part of Negros Oriental.

Decomposing bodies of a pregnant mother and her two young children who were buried in a landslide triggered by the earthquake were retrieved by rescuers and local residents in the hinterland village of Planas in Guihulngan, Negros Oriental.

They were identified as Maritess Nocos Jimenez, 32, her 2 year old daughter, Christie, and her one year old son, Arvin.

Rescue workers from different government and private groups have been at Planas since Tuesday for search, rescue and retrieval operations after at least 24 people were reported missing and believed buried under the landslide.

Here are some of the photos taken by news correspondent and veteran anchor, Ms Florence Baesa on February 07, 2012. Most shots were taken in the boundary of Brgys. P. Zamora and Mckinley, Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental.

Photo taken in Brgy. Mckinley

Aerial view of the national road along the shoreline in Guihulngan, Negros Oriental.

Updates on nationwide support and help to the earthquake victims by several LGUs and private sectors:

• The Provincial Government of Negros Occidental here has allocated P5 million assistance to the quake victims in Negros Oriental.
• Third District Representative Albee Benitez has personally contributed P500,000 and another P500,000 was chipped in by other members of the House. The assistance will be coursed through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). 
• The Philippine National Red Cross has delivered more relief goods to earthquake victims in the northern towns of Negros Oriental, with the worst-hit Guihulngan City as the priority area. 
• Geothermal leader Energy Development Corp. (EDC) has donated P1 million worth of relief goods to victims of the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that jolted Guihulngan, Tayasan and Jimalalud, Negros Oriental last Feb. 6. 

Several private colleges and universities across the Negros Island have also reportedly extended their help and sent relief goods and supplies to the victims.

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