At least 8 people killed and 60 injured after a series of powerful earthquakes struck the northern Philippines archipelago province of Batanes early on saturday, according to preliminary information from Batanes Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office. No tsunami alerts were issued.
All of the jolts were centered within 15 kilometers of Itbayat municipality. Substantial damage is being reported in Itbayat after two consecutive earthquakes measuring 5.4 and 5.9 struck the region around 4:16am and 7:30am this morning followed by an aftershock.
Amid ongoing large scale rescue operations a third quake measuring 5.7 struck the same area at 09:24am.
Terrified residents fled their homes and images in the Philippine media showed collapsed masonry homes as well as deep cracks in paved roads.
Police sergeant Uzi Villa added that the timing of the quake meant many people were at home when the first quake struck.
“Some people died because they were sleeping soundly since it was still early,“ he said.
The Philippines is part of the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, an arc of intense seismic activity that stretches from quake-prone Japan through Southeast Asia and across the Pacific basin.
A 6.3 magnitude deadly earthquake rocked large parts of the capital ,Manila and north of it in April, killing at least eight, emptying buildings of tens of thousands who have just returned from the long Holy Week holiday, and shutting down rail lines and a key airport.
