Philippines hit by major Earthquake, Around 70 feared dead

 

After the devastation of Typhoon Ragasa, the Philippines has now been struck by a catastrophic earthquake. On Tuesday night, a powerful tremor measuring 6.9 on the Richter scale rocked the country’s central region, leaving at least 70 people dead and more than 140 injured. Countless homes crumbled to the ground, and many victims remain trapped beneath the debris, raising fears that the death toll could climb significantly.

The Philippines lies along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” one of the world’s most seismically active zones. Experts note that earthquakes are common here, though most are too weak to be felt. This time, however, the tremor was strong and struck in the dead of night, when most residents were asleep—magnifying the scale of destruction and loss of life. According to Vice Mayor Alfie Reins, six deaths were reported in the nearby city of San Remigio, including three coast guards, a firefighter, and a child.

In the immediate aftermath, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology issued a tsunami warning, which was later withdrawn after no threat was detected. Still, residents along the coastal provinces of Cebu, Leyte, and Biliran were urged to evacuate as a precautionary measure.

This fresh tragedy comes just days after Typhoon Ragasa battered the nation, killing scores of people and displacing thousands into emergency shelters. Struggling to recover from the typhoon’s widespread havoc, the Philippines now finds itself reeling under the compounded misery of a devastating earthquake.