Philippines hit by 6.9 magnitude earthquake, dozens dead – DW

Contents

What did officials say?
Widespread damage and panic
Philippines: Why is Gen Z protesting?

A strong and shallow 6.9 magnitude earthquake in central Philippines has killed at least 26 people and left over 140 injured, authorities said on Wednesday.

The epicenter of the quake was about 19 kilometers (12 miles) northeast of the coastal city of Bogo in the central Cebu province. It was 5 kilometers (3 miles) deep in the earth. The earthquake struck at 9:59 p.m. local time (1359 GMT) on Tuesday night.

What did officials say?

The Philippine institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolics) briefly issued a tsunami warning and asked people to stay away from the coastline, but later lifted it as it did not monitor any unusual waves.

“This is considered a very strong earthquake,” Phivolcs director Teresito Bacolcol said in a radio interview. “We are expecting damage, and we are expecting aftershocks,” he said.

The earthquake struck right at the heels of a severe storm that battered the Cebu region on Friday, killing at least 27 people due to falling trees and flooding.

Widespread damage and panic

The earthquake damaged many buildings across central Philippines, including two churches and a sports complex.

Rescue personnel stand in front of a damaged structure following a 6.9-magnitude earthquake, in Daanbantayan, Cebu Province, Philippines The earthquake struck at 9:59 p.m. local time (1359 GMT) on Tuesday nightImage: Municipality of Daanbantayan/REUTERS

Residents panicked in the dark as the intense shaking cut off power supply, officials said. Videos on social media showed structures collapsing and crowds running in fear at a public market.

The death toll is likely to increase, said disaster-mitigation officer Rex Ygot, as officials work to rescue people from a cluster of shanties in a mountain village hit by boulders and a landslide, he said.

In San Remigio town, vice mayor Alfie Reynes appealed for food and water over the radio, as its water system had been damaged by the quake.

Meanwhile Cebu island’s provincial government called for medical volunteers on its official Facebook page, to assist in the aftermath of the shock.

The Philippines is one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries. Situated on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” the country often witnesses quakes but most are too weak to be felt.