The Philippines was hit by a massive earthquake on Wednesday morning.
According to the reports, the epicenter of the 7.1 magnitude quake was some 7 miles from the town of Dolores in Abra Province.
Occurring at the depth of 6.2 miles, the shaking spread throughout the Philippines’ northernmost island of Luzon and was strongly felt hundreds of miles away in the capital of Manila.
While many buildings were evacuated as a result of the shaking, no casualties or major damage were immediately reported.
“The earthquake lasted 30 seconds or more. I thought my house would fall,” Congressman Eric Singson from the Ilocos Sur province said in an interview with the DZMM radio station.
“Now we are trying to reach people … Right now there are aftershocks so we are outside our home.”
Meanwhile, Mayor Rovelyn Villamor of Lagangilang, Abra, told DZRH that no casualties have been reported despite obvious damage to some houses.
“We are still experiencing aftershocks. We have received reports of damages to houses. But so far no casualties,” he said.
“We don’t have power supply because that’s automatically cut off due to danger.”
While the shaking was not extreme in the National Capital Region, the authorities were urged to inspect vital facilities for potential damage.
In viral videos from supermarkets and convenience stores, items could also be seen falling from the shelves as the ground began shaking.
“In the capital region it was not destructive. It (did) not have an effect on structures but good to inspect vital facilities,” Renato Solidum Jr., the Director of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, said.
Besides all the earthquakes the Philippines faces due to its position on the Ring of Fire, the country is often also lashed by tropical storms and typhoons originating in the Pacific.
Our hearts go out to the Filipinos affected by the massive quake.