Mayor Rolando Uy suspended classes from kindergarten to elementary levels and ordered immediate structural inspections of public buildings after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake, initially recorded as magnitude 7.0, struck parts of Mindanao early Monday morning.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the 7:37 a.m. tectonic tremor had its epicenter 32 kilometers southwest of Maasim, General Santos City, at a depth of 33 kilometers.
Although offshore, the quake was felt at Intensity III in Cagayan de Oro City.
In a video statement released through the City Information Office, Uy directed the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Department (CDRRMD) to prioritize safety inspections of schools and high-rise structures.
‘We need to ensure the structural integrity of these buildings, especially since today marks the opening of the school year,’ Uy said.
The suspension affected the first day of classes for elementary pupils across the city.
Local authorities are continuing on-the-ground assessments, with no major damage or casualties reported as of posting.