2000 aftershocks hit the Philippines… Casualties, damaged homes, and destroyed bridges (photos)
Officials said on Monday that around 2000 aftershocks have struck the province in southern Philippines following a 7.4 magnitude earthquake on the Richter scale.
This resulted in at least 3 deaths, dozens of injuries, and damage to hundreds of homes and buildings.
Among the aftershocks was a 6.8 magnitude earthquake that occurred at 3:49 AM local time on Monday (19:49 GMT on Sunday) in the town of Kaguwit in the Surigao del Sur province, about 100 kilometers from the town of Hinatuan, the epicenter of the earthquake that occurred the day before yesterday on Saturday. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported that it has recorded 2000 aftershocks since December 2nd.
The director of the institute, Teresito Bacolcol, said in a television interview that people should expect more aftershocks in the coming weeks, but the shocks will become weaker and less frequent.
Bacolcol urged affected residents not to enter their homes if they have suffered damage. He said, ‘They should stay in evacuation centers and consult with civil engineers to ensure whether it is safe to return to their homes.’
He continued, ‘If there are clear cracks or visible damage, and if their homes did not collapse during the main earthquake, they might collapse during a strong aftershock.’ Damage was also inflicted on two bridges that remain impassable, while electricity has been restored to most affected areas.
The Philippines is located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, where about 90% of the world’s earthquakes occur. One of the strongest earthquakes to hit the country was in July 1990 when over 2400 people were killed on the island of Luzon in the northern part of the country in a 7.8 magnitude earthquake.
