STRONG EARTHQUAKE AFTERMATH: 15 sinkholes appear in Medellin

Local

AT LEAST 15 sinkholes have been reported in Sitio Maño, Barangay Maño, San Remigio, following the 6.9-magnitude earthquake that struck northern Cebu on Sept. 30.

Authorities are warning residents to stay alert as the ground remains unstable.

Fisherman Manolo “Journey” Tipait, 73, described the quake as sudden and intense. On the night of the earthquake, he and his wife were watching television when the shaking began.

“Wala mi gadahom mura og gibulldoze amoang balay kay naghagurong man,” Tipait said.

The morning after the quake, Tipait and other residents discovered a giant sinkhole near a house along the shoreline.

A medium-sized sinkhole nearby swallowed a fallen coconut tree and destroyed Tipait’s boat.

Smaller sinkholes were also observed in the area, including one where Tipait’s child accidentally fell but escaped without serious injury.

Another resident, 39-year-old construction worker Andres Serafin, reported seeing a large hole open just a few steps from his home during the quake.

San Remigio Mayor Mariano R. Martinez confirmed that the municipality has historically recorded over 100 sinkholes, with at least 11 new ones emerging after the recent quake.

“Ang problema sa dagko nga sinkholes is murag mapugos mig pa evacuate jud sa mga balay,” Martinez said.

The mayor added that some sinkholes contain water underneath, further destabilizing the ground.

Authorities have already evacuated at least three households deemed too close to the largest sinkholes.

Officials are also monitoring areas near schools, particularly in Hagnaya, where the proximity of sinkholes has raised safety concerns among parents and teachers.

San Remigio lies along a fault line that stretches from Bogo to the town, making it particularly vulnerable to strong earthquakes.

Residents, especially fishermen, have avoided going to sea in recent days due to fears of further disasters.(MyTVCebu)