Massive Earthquake Jolts Philippines, Damage and Aftershocks Expected
Three powerful earthquakes, measuring 7.0, 7.0, and 6.9, struck the Philippines' Eastern Visayas region within minutes of each other on Tuesday. The tremors were so powerful that panicked residents rushed out of their homes onto the streets. Power supply was disrupted in some areas. A centuries-old Parish of Saint Peter the Apostle in Bantayan partially collapsed. A video of the heritage church in Cebu with lights and parts of its outer facade collapsing is being shared widely on social media. The local seismology office has warned of possible "minor sea-level disturbance" and has warned residents of central islands – Leyte, Cebu and Biliran – to "stay away from the beach and not to go to the coast". The epicentre was located around 11 kilometres (seven miles) east-southeast of Calape, which is a municipality in Bohol province with a population of 33,000. There have been no reports of deaths or significant damage so far. I heard a loud booming noise: Eyewitness...