Northern Philippines Hit by Major Earthquake
- 7.0 magnitude earthquake displaced about 1.9 million people in Central Philippines.
- At least five people died and 130 others were injured.
- More than 21,000 people have been impacted by the quake, which caused about $687 million of infrastructure damage.
03 August 2022 | A strong earthquake jolted several provinces in the Ilocos and the Cordillera Autonomous region on July 27, 2022. It was the strongest recorded inland earthquake to hit the Philippines since 2013, when approximately 1.9 million people were displaced in Central Philippines.
The 7.0 magnitude earthquake triggered four major landslides, causing damage to national properties and roadblocks on primary national highways. It registered more than 40 aftershocks, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), with many registering at least 5.0 in magnitude.
At least five people died and 130 others were injured, reported CNN. More than 21,000 people have been impacted by the quake, which caused about $687 million of infrastructure damage, according to the Philippine National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Center.
PHIVOLCS reported the earthquake’s epicenter was located in Tayum, Abra Province, in the Cordillera region, but nearby provinces such as Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, Baguio and Benguet were also affected. Its impact was even felt in the country’s capital, Manila, more than 400 kilometers (about 250 miles) away.
Local government units immediately responded to conduct assessments while providing necessities to families affected by the calamity. Northern Luzon is home to UNESCO World Heritage sites such as some residential houses with Spanish colonial architecture. Nearly 200 buildings were destroyed in the region.
The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) team is conducting needs assessments on the ground, particularly in the province of Abra, reported the Southern Asia-Pacific Division (SSD). Jerry Requillo, the ADRA Program Manager, is currently in the North Philippines leading the evaluation for ADRA. Requillo reported that the immediate needs, particularly in the evacuation centers, are food, water, and hygiene kits. The government response team said that another primary concern for displaced families is shelter.
President of the Southern Asia-Pacific Division Roger Caderma expressed sympathy to the families and individuals affected by the earthquake. Caderma invited the churches in the region to come together in prayer and be a channel of God’s love to others through donations, relief goods, or financial assistance through ADRA or local missions and conferences of the church, reported the SSD.
(Photo: A July 27, 2022, 7.0 magnitude earthquake in the Northern Philippines caused about $687 million of infrastructure damage. Photo by ADRA via SSD.)
