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April 24, 2019

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2nd quake hits as Philippines hunts survivors

Philippine rescuers raced yesterday to reach some two dozen people still feared buried under a building near the capital Manila that collapsed a day earlier in a deadly earthquake, as a powerful second tremor hit the nation.

The US Geological Survey put the second quake — on the central island of Samar — at 6.4 magnitudes, stronger than the one that wrought significant damage on Monday near Manila in the north.

The latest quake sent terrified locals fleeing into the streets, with the authorities reporting 10 injuries — mostly from falling objects and one person who panicked and injured a leg jumping off a building.

“No one started crying, but of course some panicked because it was really strong,” said Rey Estrobo, a supervisor at a hotel in Borongan town, near the epicenter.

At the same time, the toll in Monday’s quake rose to 16, with most of the fatalities in the worst-hit northern province of Pampanga, officials said.

More than 100 others were injured by falling rubble on Monday, including in Manila, according to police.

However, initial reports indicated relatively minor destruction in Samar given the strength of yesterday’s quake, which could be down to differences in ground composition.

“The damage is more pronounced if the houses and buildings are built on a foundation of soft soil,” seismologist Myla Advincula said, referring to Pampanga’s soft sediment. “It enhances the shaking effect.”

“We’re thankful we avoided serious damage compared with Pampanga,” regional civil defense chief Henry Torres said, adding damage in Samar was limited to road and building cracks, a collapsed church wall, and a brief power outage.

Scores of rescuers in the northern town of Porac spent yesterday using cranes and jackhammers to peel back the pancaked concrete structure of a four-story market building where the Red Cross said 24 people were unaccounted for.

“Every minute, every second is critical in this rescue,” Cris Palcis, a volunteer rescue dog handler, said. “Time is short for the people under the rubble so we have to be quick.”

Pampanga Governor Lilia Pineda told journalists that rescuers could still hear at least one person trapped beneath the rubble and were digging delicately to avoid accidentally crushing the survivor.

The quake also damaged several centuries-old churches which were crowded with worshippers in recent days as the majority-Catholic Philippines marked the Easter holiday.




 

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