Powerful Earthquake Strikes the Philippines
A violent earthquake that occurred on Tuesday evening off the coast of Cebu Island, in the central part of the Philippine archipelago, has left at least 60 people dead and 147 injured, according to a provisional report released by the authorities on Wednesday morning.
Rafaelito Alejandro, Deputy Director of the Civil Defense Office, stated in a press conference in Manila: "We are receiving an increasing number of reports of casualties. The situation is very evolving. At this stage, we have been informed of the death of at least 60 people."
The Philippine National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council had earlier announced that the earthquake had injured at least 147 people, not counting the possible missing persons still under the rubble.
Earthquake Details
- The earthquake had a magnitude of 6.9 on the Richter scale
- It was recorded on Tuesday at 21:59 local time (12:59 GMT)
- The epicenter was located at sea, at a depth of 10 kilometers, off the city of Cebu, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS)
The shock was felt in several neighboring provinces, causing scenes of panic, power outages, and significant material damage in some areas.
Ongoing Relief Efforts
This new tragedy occurs while the Philippines has not yet recovered from the devastating storms that hit the country a few days ago, also causing numerous human and material losses. Relief operations are underway, but the authorities fear an increase in the number of victims as rescue teams reach the most affected areas.
