15-6-2023 (MANILA) A magnitude 6.2 earthquake shook the Philippines on Thursday (Jun 15), according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The earthquake, which struck at a depth of 112km, occurred around 10am (0200 GMT) in the waters off Calatagan town, located approximately three hours’ drive from the capital city of Manila.
Emil Mendoza, the police chief of Calatagan municipality, stated that he and his staff quickly moved outside after feeling the tremors. The earthquake was also felt in Manila and other densely populated areas in the country. “It was a bit strong. We had to run outside,” Mendoza told AFP.
While there have been no immediate reports of casualties or damage, disaster response authorities have been deployed to assess the impact of the earthquake, according to Mendoza. Ronald Torres, the disaster officer of Calatagan, mentioned that the quake lasted between 30 seconds and a minute.
Although the state seismological agency warned of possible aftershocks, they ruled out the occurrence of tsunami waves due to the earthquake’s depth.
The tremors caused people to evacuate buildings in the capital city. Runways and taxiways at Ninoy Aquino International Airport were temporarily closed to inspect for any potential damage to the pavement, as reported by the country’s transportation department. The operation of the metro system in the capital was also halted while tracks were assessed for possible damage.
Social media images verified by AFP depicted a crane truck at a Manila port swaying from the force of the tremor.
Diego Mariano, the information officer at the civil defence office, stated that authorities are still evaluating the impact of the earthquake. “As of now, no major damage or casualties have been reported. Assessment is still ongoing,” Mariano informed reporters.
The Philippines, located along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity. Quakes are a daily occurrence in the country, given its position within this arc of intense geological activity that stretches from Japan through Southeast Asia and across the Pacific basin.
In October 2013, a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Bohol Island in the central Philippines, resulting in landslides and claiming the lives of over 200 individuals. The quake caused significant damage to historical churches, particularly in the birthplace of Catholicism in the country. Hundreds of thousands were displaced, and tens of thousands of houses were damaged.
In 1990, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake in the northern Philippines caused a ground rupture spanning over a hundred kilometres, leading to severe damage and the loss of over 1,200 lives.
