At Least 13 Killed After 6.9 Magnitude Earthquake Shakes Central Philippines

At least 13 people have died due to the 6.9-magnitude earthquake in central Philippines on late Tuesday.

According to a report by the US Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake struck at around 10pm (local time) just west of Palompon in the Philippines and close to the city of Bogo in Cebu province.

Richard Gordon, chairman of the Philippine Red Cross, told CNN that at least 13 people, including three members of the Philippine Coast Guard and one firefighter, died in the town of San Remigio when a sports complex collapsed during a basketball game.

“Some churches partially collapsed, and some schools had to be evacuated. This was a sleeper. It crept up on us,” he said.

The videos from Cebu province on social media showed a fire breaking out at a mall

due to the quake.

Cebu firefighter Joey Leeguid told AFP from San Fernando town: “We felt the shake here in our station, it was so strong. We saw our locker moving from left to right, we felt slightly dizzy for a while but we are all fine now.”

CNN quoted Philippine Red Cross as reporting that there were reports at schools in Cebu of debris, cracks in buildings and a temporary power failure.

Besides, the earthquake caused a minor eruption from Taal volcano, about 70 km (45 miles) south of central Manila.

Martham Pacilan, a 25-year-old resident of the resort town of Bantayan, near the epicentre, said he was at the town square near a church when the quake struck.

“I heard a loud booming noise from the direction of the church then I saw rocks falling from the structure. Luckily no one got hurt,” he told AFP.

“I was in shock and in panic at the same time but my body couldn’t move, I was just there waiting for the shake to stop.”

Cebu Governor Pam Baricuatro urged residents to remain calm and said: “Know that the provincial government is doing its best. Help is coming.”

Earlier in the day, the local seismology office warned of a possible “minor sea-level disturbance” and urged residents of the central islands of Leyte, Cebu and Biliran to “stay away from the beach and not to go to the coast”.