Philippines is rocked by a ‘massive’ 7.1 magnitude earthquake
- The ‘massive’ quake was recorded near the heavily populated island of Luzon
- People took to social media to report feeling the effects of the quake in Manila
- No immediate reports of major damage or casualties following the earthquake
A powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake has struck the Philippine island of Luzon, with strong tremors felt in many areas including the capital Manila.
The quake was at a depth of 10 km, according to the US Geological Survey, which also said the earthquake’s epicentre was about 11km east-southeast of the town of Dolores in Abra province.
The quake was felt strongly in Manila, with the city’s metro system halted at rush hour after the quake, the transport ministry said.
The senate building in the capital was also evacuated, media reported. There were no immediate reports of major damage or casualties.
Eric Singson, a congressman in the northern Ilocos Sur province, told DZMM radio station he feared his house was going to collapse.
There is no tsunami threat to Australia after the quake, according to the Bureau of Meteorology
‘The earthquake lasted 30 seconds or more. I thought my house would fall,’ Singson said.
‘Now we are trying to reach people … Right now there are aftershocks so we are outside our home.’
The quake was felt strongly in Manila, with the city’s metro system halted at rush hour after the quake, the transport ministry said.
The senate building in the capital was also evacuated, media reported.
Renato Solidum, director of the state seismology agency, told DZMM radio station the quake could have caused problems in Abra province, but there was no evidence of damage in Manila.
‘In the capital region it was not destructive. It (did) not have an effect on structures but good to inspect vital facilities.’
There is no tsunami threat to Australia after the quake, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
A photo shared on social media by an academic in the aftermath showed damage to Vigan Cathedral, a Roman Catholic place of worship dating from the 18th century.
The cathedral forms part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Some of the cathedral’s wall appears to have crumbled, with bricks being visible on the ground.
The Philippines lies along the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, an arc of faults around the Pacific Ocean where most of the world’s earthquakes occur.
It is also lashed by about 20 typhoons and tropical storms each year, making it one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries.
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