On May 21. A powerful earthquake hit the central part of the Philippines on Monday, causing panic among local residents. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake, which occurred at 2:09 pm (0609 GMT), had a magnitude of 6.0.
The earthquake was centered about 73.3 kilometers deep, approximately nine kilometers away from the coastal town of San Julian in the province of Samar. It is estimated that the greater depth of the earthquake prevented more widespread destruction. A local police officer said the earthquake felt 'sudden and very powerful'. He reported that a beam attached to the ceiling of the police station was broken and some furniture was shaken. Due to the risk of possible aftershocks, police and other personnel are taking precautions and staying outside. So far, there have been no official reports of human casualties or serious injuries. However, the earthquake has created an atmosphere of fear and insecurity at the local level.
The Philippines is considered a highly earthquake-prone area because it lies within the Pacific Ocean's 'Ring of Fire'. This region stretches from Japan to Southeast Asia and across various parts of the Pacific Ocean, where the Earth's plates are actively moving, resulting in frequent earthquakes. Previously, in October, powerful earthquakes of 7.4 and 6.7 magnitude hit the eastern Mindanao region, killing at least eight people. Similarly, a 6.9 magnitude earthquake that occurred some time ago caused significant damage and resulted in the deaths of 76 people, while in the central Philippines' Cebu province, approximately 72,000 houses were destroyed or partially damaged.
Such incidents have consistently shown that the risk of earthquakes remains constant in the Philippines, forcing citizens and authorities to remain vigilant at all times. RSS/AFP
