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
Martham Pacilan, a 25-year-old resident of the resort town of Bantayan, said he was at the town square near a church when the earthquake hit.
"I heard a loud booming noise from the direction of the church, then I saw rocks falling from the structure. Luckily no one got hurt," he said, adding, "I was in shock and in panic at the same time, but my body couldn't move; I was just there waiting for the shake to stop."
No tsunami threat
Teresito Bacolcol, director of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, warned that damage and aftershocks were expected. However, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center later confirmed there was no tsunami threat from this earthquake.
Still reeling from the aftermath of a storm
The central Philippine provinces were still reeling from the aftermath of a storm that hit on Friday, which claimed at least 27 lives, mostly due to drownings and falling trees. The storm also knocked out power in entire cities and towns, forcing the evacuation of tens of thousands of people.
Earthquakes are common in the Philippines, as it is located on the Pacific "Ring of Fire", an arc of intense seismic activity stretching from Japan through Southeast Asia and across the Pacific basin.