DPWH sends disaster response teams to quake-affected areas

FILE: CLEARING OPERATION. The Pampanga 2nd District Engineering Office clears the debris from the collapsed boundary arch between Pampanga and Bataan following the magnitude 6.1 earthquake that jolted parts of Luzon on Monday (April 22, 2019). (Photo courtesy of DPWH-Central Luzon via PNA)

MANILA — The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will send its disaster response teams to help in areas affected by the 6.1 magnitude quake that jolted some parts of Luzon, including Metro Manila, on Monday afternoon.

In a media advisory posted on the Facebook account of the DPWH Regional Office III, DPWH Secretary Mark Villar instructed the regional director to order less affected neighboring district offices to dispatch teams to areas affected by the disaster.

DPWH Assistant Secretary Eugenio Pipo, Jr. also required regional directors to send engineers to assist in the assessment of public buildings, especially school buildings.

On Monday, the DPWH closed roads and infrastructures in Pampanga due to damages caused by the earthquake.

People and vehicles are not allowed on the whole stretch of the megadike in Maliwalu, Bacolor, Pampanga after a portion of the structure was damaged by the quake that rocked some areas in Luzon including Metro Manila.

“The east lateral portion of megadike in Maliwalu, Bacolor, Pampanga has been damaged by the 6.1 magnitude earthquake,” the post said.

“The public and all motorists are informed that the whole stretch of megadike has been closed to traffic for everybody’s safety,” it added.

The DPWH added that the Sasmuan-Lubao Road is also not passable to heavy vehicles due to collapsed slope protection and half of the carriageway’s embarkment was scourged. The estimated length of damage is approximately 100 meters.

The Consuelo Bridge in Floridablanca has also been closed to traffic as of 7:00 p.m. last night due to damage.

Rescue operation is ongoing at the Chuzon supermarket in Porac town after it collapsed. Some 40 persons are reportedly trapped inside the supermarket.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology reported that the epicenter of the quake was located in Castillejos, Zambales at around 5:11 p.m.