Thousands of call center agents were forced to evacuate their buildings across Bacolod City last night after a powerful magnitude 6.9 earthquake, with epicenter in Cebu, rocked the city and Negros Occidental.
The earthquake, which struck 21 km northeast of Bogo City, Cebu, at 9:59 p.m. on Tuesday, September 30, was felt at varying intensities across Bacolod City, hitting Intensity V in the capital.
The most visible impact was the mass evacuation of employees from numerous BPO facilities. At the Two San Parq building on Lacson Street, employees of iQor moved to the open space at Lacson Mandalagan after evacuating the 11th floor. Workers from Service First were also seen on North Capitol Road following their mandatory evacuation.
Call center employees of Concentrix Bacolod at AIU building along Lacson Mandalagan also evacuated and were barred from returning at their facility until full building inspection was completed.
At TP in Magsaysay-Lacson, employees occupied the facility’s parking space with some employees getting first aid assistance.
Hundreds of agents from Visaya, Merchant, and Focus also took refuge in the vacant space of Lacson-Ramos Street.
A number of employees from Ubiquity were given first aid due to hyperventilation following the sudden evacuation.
Fortunately, no major injuries were reported among the thousands of evacuees. Volunteers from the Chamber and Amity were quick to dispatch medics to several call centers to assist employees who experienced hyperventilation.
The quake’s strength also caused distress among late-night shoppers. Several customers doing last-minute shopping at some of Bacolod’s large malls reportedly fainted due to the intensity of the tremor. A video also circulated showing a cashier from a mall in the reclamation area being assisted after she collapsed.
The seismic event triggered blackouts in parts of the city Tuesday night. The Negros Electric and Power Corp. (NEPC) reported that the power interruption was a result of the Bacolod-Reclamation 69KV Transmission Line tripping off.
In response to the powerful quake, Bacolod Mayor Greg Gasataya ordered the suspension of classes in the city today, Wednesday, to allow school administrators to thoroughly check facilities for any structural damage. A city-led team has been set up to assist in building inspections.
The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) reported that the earthquake was felt from Intensity I to VI across various parts of Negros Occidental, with the highest intensities recorded in:
- Intensity VI: Murcia and Manapla
- Intensity V: Bacolod City, Calatrava, Himamaylan City, Hinigaran, Moises Padilla, San Carlos, Toboso, and Talisay City
In addition to Bacolod City, several towns and cities also suspended classes, including Bago City, Escalante City, Sagay City, Toboso, EB Magalona, Kabankalan City, Victrias City, and Isabela. The towns of Binalbagan and Isabela suspended both classes and work in government offices.
