A strong earthquake struck the central Philippines Tuesday, triggering a brief tsunami warning and causing damage to buildings and roads in Cebu province. Hundreds of residents evacuated to open spaces, fearing aftershocks and potential waves.The quake, centered near Bogo City in Cebu, prompted authorities to deploy medical teams and assess the extent of the damage. While the tsunami warning was later lifted, the earthquake adds to the challenges facing the region, which is still recovering from a recent tropical storm that left at least 27 people dead.According to Cebu Gov. Pamela Baricuatro,an unspecified number of houses and a hospital in Bogo City and surrounding areas sustained damage. “We’re sending already a trauma team there, doctors and nurses are on the way,” Baricuatro told DZMM radio. “We need medicine, food, medical teams.”
Initial reports indicate visible damage to business establishments, with deep cracks appearing in roads. An old Roman Catholic church in Daanbantayan town, near Bogo, was also damaged. Residents gathered in a grassy field near the Bogo fire station and remained there for hours after the quake.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology initially issued a tsunami warning for Cebu,leyte,and biliran provinces,anticipating waves up to 1 meter (3 feet) high. Institute Director teresito Bacolcol later confirmed no unusual waves where monitored, and the warning was lifted.
The earthquake struck as central Philippine provinces were beginning to recover from tropical Storm Bualoi, which impacted the region Friday, causing widespread power outages and evacuations.
The Philippines is located on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” making it highly susceptible to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and typhoons. The archipelago experiences approximately 20 typhoons and storms annually.
