4 water towers damaged in Ecija due to quake
SAN LEONARDO, Nueva Ecija – Four elevated water tanks or towers incurred damages, including one which collapsed to the ground in the aftermath of the powerful 7.3 magnitude earthquake that struck Abra, other Northern Luzon provinces, and Metro Manila, last Wednesday morning.
The collapsed elevated water tank, which stores 35,000 gallons of water, was reported at the Pump Station 1 of the Pamana Water District (PWD) in Bgy. San Anton affecting the water supply distribution in the area.
Also reported damaged were three other PWD water tanks in Bgy. Tabuating, Balanga, and Bucot, said police chief Major Jaime Ferrer, quoting an infra damage report submitted to Mayor Froilan Nagaño by the municipal disaster risk reduction management and engineering offices.
The report said the Tabuating and Balanga water tanks both incurred “turn buckle connection problems” and the Bucot tank has “loosened joints and column connection problem.”
It added that the water supply in the affected area was “still manageable and uninterrupted”.
Also damaged was a classroom at the C.I. Villaroman Elementary School in Bgy. Magpapalayok after a concrete beam-column joint inside the room deflected.
At the Pump Station 1 in Bgy. San Anton, Gerald Concepcion, pump caretaker, said he saw the double ellipsoidal-shaped water tank vigorously shaking before it slowly fell to the ground after its steel braces broke.
“Akala ko nahihilo lang ako, low blood ba parang ganun, iyon pala lumilindol, tapos nakita ko iyung tangke yumuyugyog ang lakas, tapos natanggal ang dalawang brace at tuluyang bumagsak,” he said.
Meanwhile, in San Antonio, Mayor Arvin C. Salonga announced a suspension of office and school work immediately after the earthquake struck on Wednesday.
Salonga issued the suspension order to give the municipal engineering and the disaster risk reduction and management offices headed by Engr. Leonor E. Balcos and Remigio B. Catle time to conduct post-quake assessment damages on schools, hospitals, and private and government buildings.
