Manila, July 27 (BNA) – A strong earthquake measuring 7.1 on the Richter scale hit the Philippine island of Luzon, severely damaging a hospital and buildings in a northern province and sending strong earthquakes across the capital, Manila, the US Geological Survey said.
A 25-year-old man was killed by falling debris, when the quake struck about 11 kilometers (six miles) southeast of the town of Dolores at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers, according to the US government. Geological Survey data, Reuters reported.
“Despite the sad reports of the damage caused by the earthquake, we are ensuring a swift response to those in need and those affected by this disaster,” President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said.
Officials said a hospital in Abra governorate was evacuated after the building partially collapsed, but no injuries were reported there.
Bernos posted pictures of the damaged Abra Hospital on her Facebook account, which showed a hole in its facade.
“We are still seeing aftershocks. We have received reports of damage to homes. But so far there have been no injuries,” said city mayor Rufflin Villamor in Lagangelang town in Apra province.
“Attention is focused on Abra and the neighboring counties. This is a major earthquake,” Solidium said, adding that landslides have been reported in some parts of Abra, particularly in the town of Manabo.
Abra, home to approximately 250,000 people, is a landlocked province in the northern Philippines. Deep valleys and steep hills are surrounded by rugged mountains.
The Philippines is prone to natural disasters and is located in the seismically active Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a group of volcanoes and fault lines that circle the edge of the Pacific Ocean.
Earthquakes are frequent and there are an average of 20 hurricanes each year, some of which cause deadly landslides.
The earthquake was also felt in Manila as many buildings were evacuated, some people were forced to flee from the 13th floor of a building, and the city’s subway systems were grounded at rush hour.
ZHB