Philippines Hit Twice by 6.9-Magnitude Earthquake After Earlier 7.4 Tremor

The southern part of the Philippines is dealing with some terrible stuff right now. It all kicked off early Friday with a magnitude 7.4 earthquake that really shook things up. Then, late Friday night, another one hit – this time at 6.9. The Philippine Institute of Seismology and Volcanology (PHIVOLCS) says both were centered in about the same spot.

Right now, the science folks are trying to figure out if that second one was its own separate earthquake, or just a super strong aftershock from the one that happened in the morning. What everyone does know is that at least eight people died because of the first one, from things falling or buildings collapsing. It's easy to see why people are scared and confused, trying to figure out what's up and what to do next. It is hard to stay calm.

It seems both earthquakes started way down deep along the Philippine Trench. This is a gigantic split in the ocean floor and is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire. Teresito Bacolcol, who is in charge at PHIVOLCS, mentioned they think they started around 10 kilometers, or 6 miles, down. Because this area is always moving, people should expect more shaking for a bit. The Philippines takes the brunt of it because it's right in the path of the Pacific Ring of Fire. The authorities stated that the country is seeing over 90% of the world's earthquakes, from little rumbles to big ones that can totally ruin your day.

Things are pretty bad in the Philippines right now. The damage is considerable. At least eight people are confirmed to have passed, and way more are injured. In places like Manay, a bunch of homes, schools, and stores are either badly wrecked or totally gone. The hospital in Manay had to move all the patients outside since it was too unsafe to stay inside.

People can't bring themselves to be inside because of the constant shaking. You can catch of glimpse of them trying to sleep outside in tents, their cars, or really just anywhere they can find space. PHIVOLCS said they have counted over 800 aftershocks since the initial big quake on Friday night, and they're thinking there will be more for at least a couple of weeks.

Ven Lupogan, who is a resident of Manay, described the situation to me. He stated, Our house and shop are gone. We don't have any place to sleep. There's no power, no food!” It really brings it home to you when you hear what some people have lost.

At first, there were warnings about potential killer waves going out to the Philippines, Palau, and Indonesia after the earthquakes. These warnings came from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. Thank goodness, things calmed down, and those warnings were canceled after a few hours. Still, the officials are telling people to stay on their toes and stay away from risky areas. Aftershocks are normal and can strike anytime.

The official announcement is to: get out to open ground if you are in a building that looks weak, or find a public shelter, and don't go near the coast until they say okay. It's also not a bad idea to grab what you need, like water, food, meds, and important papers. When you can finally go back inside, make sure you double-check everything for damage that might make it hazardous.

The Philippines has had its past experience with earthquakes. In 1976, an 8.0 earthquake badly damaged Mindanao. The waves that came after it ended up taking close to 8,000 lives. Not to mention, a 6.9 earthquake recently hit the central Philippines, not too far from Cebu, a couple of weeks before this event. Around 75 people didn’t make it, and about 72,000 homes were wrecked.

This shows why earthquakes are something people take seriously in the Philippines. Being ready for earthquakes is just a normal thing. Because of this, it can feel like their culture or custom to prepare.
Just remember, that aftershocks can be pretty powerful. Give an ear to what your local rescue and emergency people tell you to say and follow what directions they may give. Check buildings regularly, and inform your people about what to do in the event of an earthquake is just helpful information to be aware of. All this can save lives if another incident were to come. It can be seen that having an emergency plan is a good idea.

Basically, the Southern Philippines has been hit with major earthquakes. There are going to be more aftershocks sooner or later, so people need to stay alert, follow the guidelines, and get through this together. With the high chance of earthquakes, it's very beneficial if you take some preparations.