A powerful earthquake shook the Philippines on Tuesday, causing the collapse of the historic Bantayan church. The church's destruction, coupled with the tremor's intensity, has resulted in at least 60 fatalities and over 100 injuries. Measuring 6.9 on the Richter scale, the quake's epicenter was located in the central Philippines region, according to government sources.
The earthquake's origin was pinpointed near Bogo, approximately 17 kilometers northeast of Bogo in Cebu province, an area with a population of about 90,000. The seismic event struck at 9:50 PM local time, sending shockwaves through the region.
The National Center for Seismology reported that the quake, which occurred around 7:30 PM Indian Standard Time on Tuesday, had a magnitude of 7.0 with its epicenter 10 kilometers below the earth's surface.
Local reports indicate that the powerful tremor caused widespread power outages, forcing residents to flee their homes and seek refuge in the darkness of the streets. The centuries-old Parish of St. Peter the Apostle in Bantayan was among the structures devastated by the quake. Social media platforms were quickly inundated with footage of a church collapsing, juxtaposing the eerie glow of lights with the terrifying sounds of the structure's demise, prompting many to flee in panic.
Police and rescue team members informed the Associated Press that in Bogo, the earthquake damaged concrete buildings, a fire station, and roads. Authorities fear the death toll may rise as rescue efforts continue. While earthquakes are not uncommon in the area, no tsunami warnings were issued following this particular seismic event.
On the same day, tremors were also felt near the Bali Sea, registering 6.0 on the Richter scale. This separate seismic activity occurred at approximately 10:20 PM Indian Standard Time on Tuesday.
