Philippines earthquake: The Philippine government is considering whether to seek help from foreign governments based on the rapid assessment of the damage.
An earthquake has caused massive devastation in the Philippines. A 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck the Cebu province in central Philippines on Tuesday night, September 30, shaking the earth so much that at least 69 people have died and many others have been injured. Indian Prime Minister PM Modi has expressed his condolences on the loss of life and property caused by the earthquake. PM Modi wrote on the social media platform X, “Deeply saddened to learn about the loss of life and extensive damage caused by the earthquake in the Philippines. My condolences and prayers are with the bereaved families. I wish the injured a speedy recovery. India stands in solidarity with the Philippines in this difficult time.”
What happened in the Philippines?
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology reported that a magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck Cebu province at 9:59 p.m. local time on Tuesday. The institute later revised the magnitude to 6.9 and said the quake struck about 19 kilometers northeast of Bogo City, at a depth of 5 kilometers.
The earthquake was felt in several neighboring provinces in the central Philippines, as well as some areas in the southern Philippines. The Philippine government is considering whether to seek assistance from foreign governments based on rapidly developing damage assessments. In addition to India, the United States, Japan, Australia, and the European Union have so far expressed condolences.
Roads in several villages were also damaged. The quake knocked out power lines, causing blackouts in Cebu and surrounding central islands. However, the Philippines’ National Grid Corporation said in an update that power was restored in Cebu and four other major central islands shortly after midnight.
The Philippines is located on the Pacific Ocean’s “Ring of Fire,” a region prone to earthquakes and volcanic activity.