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On Wednesday, a powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck the northeastern Philippine island of Luzon, killing four people, damaging buildings, and causing strong tremors in Manila.
According to Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos, two people were killed in Benguet province, one in Abra province, and one in another province. According to him, sixty people were injured.
According to US Geological Survey data, the quake struck about 11 kilometres (six miles) southeast of Dolores at a shallow depth of 10 kilometres (6 miles).
“Despite the heartbreaking reports of earthquake damage, we are ensuring a speedy response to those in need and impacted by this disaster,” President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said on Facebook.
The quake struck close to the political stronghold of the Marcos family.
Strong aftershocks were expected, according to Renato Solidum, director of the state seismology agency.
“The focus is on Abra and neighbouring provinces. This is a significant earthquake “said Solidum.
According to Abalos, 173 structures were damaged and 58 landslides were reported in Abra province, with 44 of the 60 people injured.
A clinic in Abra province was forced to evacuate after the building partially collapsed, but no casualties were reported, according to officials.
Joy Bernos, Abra’s vice governor, posted photos of the damaged Abra hospital on her Facebook page, showing a gaping hole in its facade.
Other images showed emergency rooms, including one with a patient, being wheeled across a road and hospital staff being evacuated.
