7 Richter earthquake in the Philippines: 800 aftershocks – Residents slept outside

The very strong earthquake of 7 Richter that shook the province of Ambra, in the northern Philippines yesterday (27/7) has caused great concern to the residents, who slept outside. According to the Philippine Seismological Service overall 800 aftershocks have been recorded, and some even very strong. “There are aftershocks every 15-20 minutes since yesterday. Many of us slept outside last night, almost all families,” said Reggie Tolentino, a restaurateur in Benguet.

The earthquake claimed the lives of five people and injured 150 others. It destroyed buildings and triggered landslides, while shaking properties as far away as Manila, 300 kilometers from the epicenter.

President Ferdinand Marcos arrived in the province earlier to inspect the damage from the earthquake according to his services, which broadcast live on Facebook his meetings with local officials.

In Ambra, which suffered the full force of the quake, damage is comparatively “minimal” according to police officer Mali Kula. “We don’t have a lot of people in reception centers” for the homeless, although “a lot of people remained on the streets because of the aftershocks,” he said.

In the city of Vigan, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in the neighboring province of Ilocos Sur, buildings from the period of Spanish colonial rule (1565-1898) were destroyed.

A total of 460 building structures in this province were damaged, among them the historic Bandai spire, a tourist attraction, which partially collapsed, Governor Jeremiah Singson said. “Our tourism industry and small business owners have really suffered a heavy blow,” he added according to APE-MPE, cited by AFP.

The Philippines they are often hit by strong earthquakes, as they are located on the so-called “ring of fire” in the Pacific Ocean, where seismic and volcanic activity is intense. Yesterday’s earthquake was the strongest to hit the Southeast Asian country in years.