DAMAGES AT CATAINGAN PORT. A port security officer and a member of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) assess the extent of damage caused by a 6.5-magnitude earthquake at Cataingan Port on Tuesday (August 18, 2020). The PCG said the port has resumed operations with no recorded injuries or fatalities. (Photo courtesy of PCG)
MANILA – Following the closure of Cataingan Port on Tuesday morning to assess the extent of damage caused by a 6.5-magnitude earthquake, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said the port has resumed operations.
In an incident report, the PCG said the port has resumed operations at around noon, with no injuries or accidents reported inside the compound and its surrounding waters.
“Ligtas ang lahat ng port personnel, tripulante, at mga mangingisda na nasa pantalan noong maganap ang insidente. Walang ring naitalang aksidente sa karagatan kasabay ng lindol (All port personnel, seafarers, and fisherfolk at the port were safe during the incident. There were also no reports of any accidents at sea during the earthquake),” the PCG said.
In a message, PCG spokesperson Commodore Armando Balilo said PCG personnel initially reported damage on the pavement of Cataingan Port and some damage at the Cataingan Coast Guard station after the earthquake.
“Naramdaman rin ang malakas na pagyanig sa Coast Guard Regional Training Center sa Masbate kung saan nagsasanay ang 476 na female trainee ng PCG. Sa kabila nito, walang naitalang ‘casualty’ sa naganap na insidente (The earthquake was also felt at the Coast Guard Regional Training Center in Masbate where 476 female trainees were taking part in an exercise. There were no casualties from the incident),” the PCG said.
After the earthquake, it said a Deployable Response Group was organized by the PCG-Masbate to provide rapid response to Cataingan Port and neighboring areas.
At around 8 a.m., a strong earthquake was recorded five kilometers southwest of Cataingan, Masbate, jolting Quezon, parts of Bicol, and the Visayas. (PNA)
