At least one person has been killed and more are feared dead after a powerful earthquake struck the central Philippines late Monday night, according to local authorities.
The 6.9-magnitude quake hit around 10 pm local time, the US Geological Survey reported. The temblor was shallow — only about 6 miles deep — and centered just west of Palompon in Leyte province, near the city of Bogo in Cebu province. No tsunamis have been reported.
Shallow earthquakes tend to cause greater damage, and early survey models warned that casualties and widespread destruction were possible, especially in areas with poorly constructed buildings.
Videos circulating on social media showed fires breaking out at a shopping mall in Cebu province, while a McDonald’s restaurant sustained heavy damage. In another clip, beauty pageant contestants were seen fleeing the stage as the ground shook violently.
Local officials have warned residents to stay alert for aftershocks, which could further weaken already damaged structures. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology has not issued a tsunami warning, but authorities remain cautious given the quake’s strength and proximity to coastal communities.
The Philippines sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a seismic zone where tectonic plates frequently collide, producing earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Monday’s quake is one of the strongest to hit the region in recent years.
