Powerful 6.9 Magnitude Earthquake Rocks Central Philippines, Tsunami Alert Issued
Powerful 6.9 Magnitude Earthquake Rocks Central Philippines, Tsunami Alert Issued
A powerful 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck the central Philippines late yesterday, prompting a tsunami alert and triggering widespread fears of damage and casualties. The U.S. Geological Survey reported the quake hit around 10 p.m. local time, with its epicenter just 10 kilometers (6 miles) underwater, west of Palompon and near Cebu province’s Bogo city.
Initial reports and social media footage from Cebu province show significant impact, including a fire breaking out at a mall and extensive damage to a McDonald’s outlet. Videos also captured beauty pageant contestants evacuating a stage as the tremors began.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) immediately issued an orange-level tsunami alert for Leyte, Biliran, and Cebu provinces, advising coastal residents to evacuate inland and stay away from shorelines. Multiple aftershocks have also been recorded in the hours following the main quake.
Authorities in Bogo confirmed that rescue operations are now underway. Over half a million people across the Visayan Islands, including Cebu, Biliran, and Leyte, experienced very strong shaking, according to USGS estimates. Such intensity is expected to cause considerable damage to poorly constructed buildings and moderate damage to well-built structures.
The Philippines is situated on the seismically active Ring of Fire, an arc of fault lines encircling the Pacific Ocean, making it highly susceptible to earthquakes.
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