Philippines is rocked by SECOND huge earthquake in 24 hours: 6.6 magnitude strikes archipelago after country was hit by 7.6 tremor that killed at least one and sparked panic
A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck the southern Philippines on Sunday, the US Geological Survey said, one of a number of strong aftershocks after a magnitude 7.6 quake a day earlier.
The latest earthquake struck northeast of Bislig on the island of Mindanao at around 6:36 PM local time (1036 GMT) today.
The earlier magnitude 7.6 earthquake killed at least one person late Saturday evening, which occurred at a depth of 20 miles (32 kilometers), about 13 miles (21 kilometers) northeast of Hinatuan, the United States Geological Survey said.
The municipality's 45,000 residents have been ordered to leave their homes and many headed for higher ground on foot or in vehicles, a local police official said – as photos show crowds have gathered in evacuation centers.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said it expected tsunami waves to hit the southern Philippines and parts of Indonesia, Palau and Malaysia after Saturday's 7.6 magnitude earthquake, but later dropped its tsunami warning fall warning.
A pregnant woman died when she was hit by a 15-foot concrete wall that collapsed as the ground shook and prompted her to flee her home in Tagum city in Davao del Norte province, the country's emergency management chief said city, Shieldon Isidoro, adding that her husband and daughter were injured but apparently survived.
The latest earthquake struck northeast of Bislig on the island of Mindanao at around 6:36 PM local time (1036 GMT) today.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said it expected tsunami waves to hit the southern Philippines and parts of Indonesia, Palau and Malaysia after Saturday's earthquake, but later dropped its tsunami warning.
A pregnant woman died when she was hit by a 15-foot concrete wall that collapsed when the ground shook, prompting her to flee her home in Tagum town in Davao del Norte province.
Two other children and their parents jumped from a second-floor window in panic as their home in the same city wobbled, but were not injured after landing on a patch of grass, added Mr Isidoro, who revealed he was at home when Saturday's earthquake struck. .
He said: 'Initially the swing was weak. Then it quickly got stronger and I could barely stand. My perfume bottles fell off a table, pictures on my wall were thrown and I heard people outside shouting, 'Go away, go away, earthquake, earthquake!'
Although he feared the roof of his house would collapse on him, Mr. Isidoro said he was more concerned that there could be many casualties in Tagum, a city of about 300,000 people, where he had regularly led earthquake drills that he believed that they had prevented more deaths. and injuries.
Hundreds of patients were evacuated from a hospital in Tagum but were later escorted back after an inspection showed there was no major damage to the building, officials said.
Thousands of residents stayed outside their homes for hours in many cities amid earthquake and tsunami fears, including some cities drenched in an overnight downpour, officials said.
Shocking images showed explosions as the earthquake struck the island on Saturday
The quake was felt hundreds of kilometers away and prompted tsunami warnings in the southern Philippines, Japan, parts of Indonesia, Palau and Malaysia
Secretary of Defense Gilberto Teodoro Jr. told a news conference that authorities were assessing the impact of the earthquake, but initial reports showed no major damage apart from two bridges and power outages. One death was reported with several injuries, he said.
Teresito Bacolcol, head of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, said shortly after the quake that his agency had advised residents along the coast of Surigao del Sur and Davao Oriental provinces, which were near the epicenter of the undersea quake, to evacuate immediately . to higher areas or further inland.
Photos on the Facebook account of Hinatuan town in Surigao del Sur province show residents fleeing to higher ground at night on foot or in cars, trucks, motorcycles and three-wheeler taxis.
There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage, but Hinatuan police Sergeant Joseph Lambo said the earthquake was “very powerful.” Pictured: People gather in the aftermath of an earthquake in Hinatuan
Water poured from the roof of a parking garage as the earthquake struck the region last night
Many villagers who had fled to evacuation centers returned to their homes on Sunday, officials said.
After conducting inspections, civil aviation officials said there was no major damage at several airports in the south and no disruption to flight operations.
The Philippines, one of the world's most disaster-prone countries, is often hit by earthquakes and volcanic eruptions due to its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire, an arc of seismic faults around the ocean.
The archipelago is also hit by about twenty typhoons and storms every year.
In Japan, authorities late Saturday issued evacuation orders in several parts of Okinawa, including the entire coastal area, affecting thousands of people.