Central Philippines on Tuesday witness a shallow 6.7 -magnitude of earthquake. The US Geological Survey said, sending residents fleeing their homes , but there were no casualities reported.
The earthquake hit southeast of Masbate Island in the Bicol region at 8: 03 am. ” There are a lot damaged houses,” said staff Sergeant Antonio Clemente in Cataingan, a town on the impoverished Masbate Island several kilometres west of the epicentre in the Samar Sea.
“It was really strong.
Poor areas of Philippines houses are often made from lightweight material such as wood.The quake struck as the archpelago battles surging numbers of coronavirus cases, with restrictions on movement that vary across the country.
In nearby Palanas town, police chief Captain Alvin Guerina told AFP that severa patients, including a pregnant women about to go into labour, were evacuated in case of aftershocks.
The USGS are of view that ” it was low likelihood” of casualities or damage from earthquake. ” In recent times the earthquake has caused secondary hazards such as landslides and liquefaction that might have contributed to losses.
The city of Iloilo which is about 400 kilometres(250 miles) southwest of Masbate in the neighbouring Visayas region, the resident ran out onto the streets.
Police Colonel Eric Dampal told AFP that it was strong, dizzying earthquake. ” Almost everyone inside buildings rushed to the streets. Up to now, they’re still outside.”
The location of Philippines is on the Pacific ” Ring of Fire”, an arc of intense seismic activity that stretches from Japan through Southeast Asia and across the pacific Basin.
A magnitude of 6.7 quake hits the southern island of Mindanao in December, killing atleast three people, injuring dozens and damaging buildings.
The Island that got hit are still on the way of recovery from a string of deadly quakes in October.
