7.6 quake hits eastern PH

A minute-long 7.6-magnitude earthquake hit off the Philippine’s coast on Friday, triggering a tsunami warning for the eastern part of the archipelago and Indonesia, US seismologists said.

Philippine authorities said the quake shook the eastern Philippines but as of press time, there were no reports of extensive damage.

The US Geological Survey said the quake had a depth of 34 kilometers and hit at 8:47 p.m. (1247 GMT), 139 km east of the city of Sulangan on Samar island. The epicenter was located at 93 km east of Sulangan  in the resort town of Guian in Samar.

But a report sent by Inquirer Mindanao said a grandmother died when she tried to get her 5-year-old grandchild out of their house which was hit by a landslide at the time the earthquake struck in Barangay Kauswagan, Cagayan de Oro City, on Friday night. Emelinda Ubalde, 54, died before reaching the hospital for treatment, but her grandchild was hurt.

Marketgoers lining up to buy goods at a fiesta fair along the boulevard in Surigao province scampered for safety when news of the earthquake spread.

Police Senior Insp. Diomedes Cuadra said initial reports did not indicate any casualty or injury, though there were unconfirmed reports of damage to property .

But the quake did scare local residents, especially patients in hospitals, who were seen going out on the streets. Some even carrying their oxygen tanks with them.

The USGS had initially reported the quake as having a magnitude of 7.9, but revised it to 7.6.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said in a bulletin any wave generated by the quake would be expected to hit Indonesia first.

Source: Inquirer Bureaus