By Jason Gutierrez and Austin Ramzy

 April 23, 2019


o
o
o
o
o

MANILA — The Philippines was hit by a powerful earthquake on Tuesday afternoon, a

day after a deadly tremor hit the north of the country.

The earthquake on Tuesday registered a magnitude of 6.4 and was centered in Samar,
an island in the central eastern part of the country, the United States Geological Survey
said.

The location is about 375 miles southeast of the magnitude-6.1 earthquake Monday that
killed at least 16 people and shook buildings in Manila, the capital.

Rescuers in a town near Manila were still searching on Tuesday for people trapped in a
supermarket that collapsed in the Monday quake. At least five people died in the
collapsed store, officials said.
ADVERTISEMENT

The Philippines, which sits at the intersection of multiple tectonic plates, sees frequent
seismic activity and sometimes deadly earthquakes. Officials from the Philippine
Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said the two earthquakes this week did not
appear to be connected.

Many areas hit by the quake Monday, which was centered about 40 miles northwest of
Manila, were still without power a day later. Electricity providers cut off supply to
prevent fires while damage was still being assessed.

About 120 families were evacuated. Schools and government work in affected areas was
suspended to allow for building inspections and rescue work.

In Samar, the mayor of the city of Catbalogan, Archie Fuentes, said he saw five houses
destroyed.

“There were many damaged structures,” Mr. Fuentes said. “Tiles fell off the walls. I
called off work today for government offices in the afternoon. We are on a 24-hour
alert.”
ADVERTISEMENT

One person was reported to have been injured by falling debris.

“People panicked at first,” Mr. Fuentes said over DZBB radio in Manila. “There is still
fear as of now.”

Col. Michael David, police chief of the coastal city of Tacloban, which was badly
damaged by Typhoon Haiyan in 2013, said people there also panicked on Tuesday. The
Asian Development Foundation College in the city was damaged, but no one was
immediately reported to have been injured.

“We have not been hit hard,” Colonel David said. “But people are struggling with fear
and trauma as rumors quickly spread of a tsunami.”

“Please don’t panic,” he pleaded over local radio. “There is no tsunami alert.”

Mr. David said people had evacuated their homes and offices after the initial shaking,
but quickly went back.

“Right now, we have not noticed anything different from the sea. It is normal,” he said.
“We are assessing the damage. The city hall is safe and sound.”