A magnitude 7 earthquake struck the country at 8:43 a.m. on Wednesday, leaving at least four people dead and still countless others injured in what is considered to be the strongest to hit the Philippines in recent times.
Renato Solidum, the head of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, said that all quakes registering 7 or up are considered as major earthquakes.
The earthquake’s epicenter was identified in the province of Abra and has already been reported to have triggered landslides, mudslides and damage to various structures, specially in the northern part of the country.
Most of the casualties, including the four fatalities, were reported in Abra, where 24 were said to have been injured.
President Bongbong Marcos, Jr.held a press conference to update the public on the latest reports and said he was in his office when the earthquake happened.
He said that the clinking sounds of the chandelier had always been their gauge in Malacanang when an earthquake happens and that on Wednesday morning, it shook heavily. (Anthony Quindoy)
