Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 3) — One person died while four others were injured after a magnitude 7.4 quake hit in waters off Hinatuan town in Surigao del Sur on Saturday, the Department of National Defense reported.
In a Sunday press briefing, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro said 529 families, or 2,647 individuals, were affected by the earthquake.
As of 1 p.m. Sunday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said it recorded over 800 aftershocks.
Phivolcs earlier warned of tsunamis expected to hit affected areas immediately after the tremor, but canceled the alert at 3:23 a.m. on Sunday.
Affected areas include the cities of Tandag and Bislig in Surigao del Sur; Cagayan de Oro City; Nabunturan, Davao de Oro; and Davao City.
Phivolcs said movement along the Philippine Trench located east of Mindanao caused the magnitude 7.4 quake.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) is on blue alert, which means half of its personnel are on standby to ensure enough manpower will monitor the aftershocks and respond to emergencies.
Meanwhile, the regional offices of the Office of Civil Defense in Davao Region and Caraga are on red alert.
The Hinatuan local government reported that several infrastructures, including houses, were damaged by the earthquake.
Teodoro said two bridges were damaged and temporarily closed while Phivolcs reported that the ceiling and walls of a mall in Butuan City collapsed.
