After the massive earthquake in the north of the Philippines, the number of injured has risen to more than 130. The civil defense of the Southeast Asian island said at least five people were killed on Wednesday in the earthquake with a magnitude of 7 on the Richter scale. The epicenter was in the province of Abra in the north of the island of Luzon. The region is located 335 kilometers north of the capital Manila.
On Thursday, new president Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to the earthquake zone and spoke to those affected. Numerous aftershocks had caused many residents to spend the night outside.
Schools and hospitals damaged
Most of the deaths and injuries were caused by falling parts of buildings, landslides and falling rocks. According to authorities, nearly 13,000 people were affected by the earthquake, which also damaged schools, hospitals, roads and bridges. The tremors were felt even as far away as Manila.
The Philippines is located on the Pacific Ring of Fire – the most geologically active zone on Earth. The last violent earthquake measuring 7.1 on the Richter scale in 2013 killed 220 people in the center of the country. In July 1990, an earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale killed more than 2,400 people on the island of Luzon.
More than 800 aftershocks measured
A 59-year-old man was killed Thursday in a landslide in one of hundreds of aftershocks, a local official said. More than 800 aftershocks have been measured since the great quake, according to the Philippine Seismological Institute. 24 of them were so strong that they could be felt. “Since yesterday, there have been aftershocks almost every 15 or 20 minutes,” said restaurant owner Reggi Tolentino in the regional capital, Bangued.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
