ILOILO CITY: Several government buildings, schools and community facilities in Iloilo City sustained cracks and minor structural damage following the magnitude 4.8 earthquake that struck off the coast of Guimbal, Iloilo, last March 2.
This was based on a situational report released by the Iloilo City Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) on Wednesday (Mar 4).
Inspectors noted cracks and minor structural issues in several facilities across the city, including those at the Mohon Barangay Hall in Arevalo, Tanza Baybay Barangay Hall, Ortiz Barangay Hall, several day care centres in Jaro and Mandurriao, and Baldosa Barangay Hall in Lapaz.
Structural damage was also observed in the covered gym of the Ingore Elementary School in Lapaz, where cracks were reported on walls, beams and ceilings.
Cracks were likewise noted in portions of the covered gym in San Pedro, Molo, and in a four-storey classroom building of Ramon Avanceña National High School in Arevalo.
Authorities clarified that many cracks observed in other buildings — including those at the Iloilo Legislative Building, Central Market, and Iloilo Terminal Market — had already been previously identified even before the earthquake.
As a precautionary measure, 36 of 65 schools in the city, including two extension campuses, suspended face-to-face classes on Tuesday, while structural inspections were conducted. Iloilo City Community College also shifted to online classes for the day following safety assessments.
The earthquake occurred at 6:13 p.m. on March 2 with a depth of 11 kilometres and was located about five kilometres south-west of Guimbal, Iloilo, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).
The tremor was felt at Intensity IV in Iloilo City and nearby towns, such as Guimbal, Miagao, Tigbauan and Oton. It was also felt in other parts of Western Visayas, including Antique, Aklan, Capiz and Negros Occidental.
Monitoring instruments recorded peak ground acceleration ranging from 29 to 70 gal, with the SM City Iloilo seismic monitor registering 41.5 gal and the NCDR P-Alert sensor recording up to 61.1 gal. These measurements correspond to an instrumental intensity of IV on the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale.
Residents, particularly those staying in mid- and high-rise buildings, reported strong ground shaking. Several establishments and offices temporarily evacuated occupants while precautionary safety inspections were conducted.
A total of 39 personnel from various response units were mobilized to conduct assessment and monitoring operations. These included teams from the Iloilo City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), Emergency Medical Services, Urban Search and Rescue, the Iloilo Citizens Action Group and the Office of the Building Official.
Hospitals across the city also conducted precautionary inspections and remained fully operational, with no confirmed injuries or disruptions to medical services.
Authorities said rapid structural assessments of public markets, government buildings, condominiums and business process outsourcing facilities had, so far, found no major structural damage.
Mayor Raisa Treñas earlier directed response clusters to intensify monitoring and conduct inspections of critical infrastructure, particularly school buildings, to ensure public safety.
The Iloilo City Emergency Operations Centre said monitoring and validation of reports were ongoing as authorities continued to assess the full impact of the earthquake. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
