A magnitude 7.1 quake hit Wednesday near Dolores in the Philippines, severely damaging a hospital and buildings in the northern province and causing strong aftershocks in the capital Manila, the USGS said. Officials have announced that a hospital in Abra province has been evacuated after the partial collapse of a hospital building in an earthquake.
Philippine Interior Minister Benjamin Abalos said at a televised press conference on Wednesday that four people were killed and 60 were injured as a result of a strong earthquake in the north of the country.
“We are still facing aftershocks. We have received reports of damage to houses, but so far there have been no casualties,” said Rovilen Villamor, Mayor of Lagangilang in Apra County. The press service of the region published photos on its Facebook page showing badly damaged buildings.
The Geological Survey reported that the earthquake occurred at a depth of 10 km. The US agency said the quake’s epicenter was about 11 kilometers southeast of Dolores, and residents of the capital Manila also felt the tremors. According to the Ministry of Transport, the city’s subway network has suspended operation during rush hour after the earthquake.
