6.4 magnitude earthquake in the Philippines leaves 26 injured and causes airport closure

A strong earthquake shook a large area of ​​northern Philippineswhich left at least 26 injured and forced the closure of an international airport as well as the evacuation of numerous patients in a hospital, officials said on Wednesday.

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The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said Tuesday night’s magnitude 6.4 tremor, caused by a shift in a local fault line, was centered 11 kilometers (7 miles) deep and 9 kilometers (5 miles) deep. 5 miles) northwest of the town of Lagayan, in the province of Abr.

The US Tsunami Warning System said the tremor did not warrant the issuance of any advisory or warning.

The quake was felt across a wide area of ​​Luzon’s main northern region, including parts of the Manila metropolitan area, more than 400 kilometers (248 miles) south of Abra.

At least 26 people were injured in Ilocos Norte, the home province of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., where the international airport in the capital city of Laoag was temporarily closed due to quake damage, police and state officials said. civil Aviation.

In the city of Batac, in Ilocos Norte, numerous patients were evicted from the largest hospital in the province due to fragments of the ceiling in the intensive care unit falling off during the swaying of the building, according to authorities.

Patients from the Batac hospital had to be evacuated due to the magnitude 6.4 earthquake registered in the north of the Philippines. (AFP / Department of Fire Protection /)

Marcos Jr., who was in Manila, said authorities were inspecting roads and buildings, and civil protection authorities were providing assistance to those affected in the northern provinces.

“All people are advised to stay out of tall structures,” the president said in a tweet.

In the city of La Paz, in Abra, a century-old Christian church was damaged. Part of its bell tower collapsed and some walls had cracks. The church’s grassy courtyard was covered with debris, authorities said.

At least two towns in Cagayan province were temporarily without power due to damage to transmission lines.

A number of bridges and roads in adjoining provinces were damaged

Source: Elcomercio