ALBAWABA- A powerful 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck the eastern Philippines on Tuesday afternoon, leaving widespread destruction and casualties across Samar and nearby provinces.
The quake, centered 45 kilometers northeast of Guiuan at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers, was felt as far as Manila and across the Visayas and Mindanao, sending residents fleeing into the streets.
At least 12 people, including five children, were confirmed dead in Guiuan, with more than 50 others injured and many feared trapped under collapsed structures.
A shopping mall in Tacloban partially caved in, a hospital in Borongan was evacuated after sustaining severe cracks, and landslides have cut off key roads in Leyte and Eastern Samar.
Power outages continue across affected areas, and initial damage estimates already exceed $50 million.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared a state of emergency, deploying the Armed Forces and disaster agencies to lead rescue operations.
The Philippine Red Cross mobilized medical teams, while the U.S., Japan, and the United Nations pledged immediate humanitarian support. PHIVOLCS briefly issued a tsunami warning, later lifted, but warned of strong aftershocks in the coming days.
The disaster recalls the 2013 Bohol quake that killed over 6,000, underscoring the Philippines’ vulnerability to seismic events in the Pacific “Ring of Fire.”
