At least 8 people killed, dozens injured after series of strong earthquakes hit Batanes Islands, Philippines
Series of strong earthquakes hit Batanes, the Philippines on July 26 and 27, 2019, leaving at least 8 people dead and dozens injured.The series started with M4.2 (PHIVOLCS) at 04:13 PHT, July 26, followed by M2.8 at 19:17, M2.4 at 22:13, M5.4 at 04:16 PHT, July 27, M5.9 at 07:37 (the strongest so far) and 18 subsequent quakes with magnitudes ranging from 1.7 to 5.8 over the next 12 hours.
The epicenters of all but M5.4 at 04:16 were located about 14 km (8.7 miles) E of Itbayat, Batanes (population 2 867). M5.4 struck northern parts of Itbayat island and is the primary cause for damage and deaths.
Earthquakes in Batanes registered by EMSC on July 26 and 27, 2019. Credit: Google, TW/SAM
There were no tsunami warnings issued, but the quakes caused considerable infrastructural damage across Batanes region.
Mayor Raul de Sagon told AFP that 8 people had been killed and around 60 others were hurt. The extent of their injuries was not immediately clear, he said.
"We saw houses shaking. Some of the walls of the houses collapsed and fell on the victims. Some people died because they were sleeping soundly since it was still early," he added.
Roldan Esdicul, head of the Batanes provincial disaster-response office, said the initial quake [M5.4] severely cracked the bell tower of the island's old limestone church, the 19th-century Santa Maria de Mayan, a popular tourist attraction. The tower crumbled down when the second temblor hit the island, he said.
A one-story hospital was damaged, prompting patients to be evacuated and brought out in the open with dozens of injured quake victims. Some were later crammed into a basketball court with a roof due to heavy rains, Esdicul said.
Itbayat residents were advised not to return to their homes and stay in the town plaza.
At least 7 killed, dozens injured after earthquakes strike #Batanes#Ityabat #Philippines pic.twitter.com/4iKkKVXo1l
— Ruptly (@Ruptly) July 27, 2019
Bron: watchers.news???? WEATHER WATCHER LOOKS | Magnitude 5.4 Earthquake hits #Itbayat, Batanes at 4:16 AM earlier while another Magnitude 5.9 Earthquake hits again the #Itbayat, #Batanes at 7:37 AM earlier. Some areas of #Batanes was severely devastated of this massive earthquake earlier. pic.twitter.com/lzOX3MhIqj
— Weather Watcher Philippines (@wthrwatcherph) July 27, 2019
News Update : At least eight people have been killed after after three earthquakes struck Batanes province in the Philippines earlier today. The Philippine seismology agency said the quakes had a magnitude of 5.4 ,5.9 & 5.7.#itbayat #Philippinespic.twitter.com/Lo0jETgSRQ
— Shark NewsWires (@SharkNewsWires) July 27, 2019
Burning the midnight oil ????
— Philippine Red Cross (@philredcross) July 28, 2019
Final briefing for our WASH technicians from Batangas and Nueva Vizcaya Chapters ahead of their deployment to #Itbayat. This is part of the effort to ensure clean and safe water for thousands of people staying in the open ground. pic.twitter.com/PGgSTrfn81
Philippines: Earthquake Kills 8, Injures Dozens, Officials Sayhttps://t.co/XNRZmNofnz#Itbayat #BatanesQuake #batanes#Philippines #EarthquakePH pic.twitter.com/HkdYcTVHZT
— BenarNews (@BenarNews) July 27, 2019
⚠️#Philippines: At least 8 dead and 60 injured are reported in #Itbayat, #Batanes province, north of the country, following several #earthquake(s), there are damages of different considerations, the church Nuestra Señora del Rosario Parish was damaged.
— American Earthquakes (@earthquakevt) July 27, 2019
Source pic: @MovePH.#EQVT. pic.twitter.com/SejQkWY4F4
LAMENTABLE:
— Geól. Sergio Almazán (@chematierra) July 27, 2019
El fuerte #sismo M5.9 y réplicas está mañana (julio 27) en #Itbayat #Filipinas deja al menos 8 fallecidos y serios daños en construcciones
Julio
Vía @ElLuchin1 pic.twitter.com/eXRnFSVgho
#Itbayat earthquake Filipinas ???????? 5.7 pic.twitter.com/xwFEKa4PKG
— Jose Antonio Lopez (@jalcantico) July 27, 2019
URGENTE | Un #terremoto de intensidad 5.9 ha sacudido a #Itbayat en #Filipinas.
— NoticiasChelmevision (@NOTICIAS_chelme) July 27, 2019
El alcalde de #Batanes ha confirmado que hay varios heridos, muchos de ellos en estado de gravedad.
Hay 5 personas fallecidas.
Hay varios daños materiales graves pic.twitter.com/vPXqkxaFHt