A magnitude 4.4 earthquake struck the Philippines on Thursday, prompting schools to close in Baguio City as residents evacuated buildings. The quake, initially reported as a 4.8 magnitude, was centered in Pugo City, near Baguio, according to the Philippine government’s seismology office.
The tremor rattled a nation frequently impacted by seismic activity due to it’s location along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” an area known for intense earthquakes stretching from Japan through Southeast asia and across the Pacific basin. This event also comes as the country continues to assess the damage from a recent earthquake in Cebu, where the death toll has risen to 74, with approximately 72,000 homes destroyed or damaged and over 1,058 people injured.
Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong ordered the closure of elementary and middle schools as a precautionary measure,the city’s public information office announced via Facebook. The quake evoked memories of the devastating 1990 earthquake-a magnitude 7.8 event-that killed around 1,600 people in and around Baguio, a popular tourist destination nestled in the mountains.
Earthquakes are a near-daily occurrence in the Philippines. Authorities continue to monitor the situation and provide assistance to those affected by both the recent quake and the ongoing recovery efforts in Cebu.