Philippines earthquakes: Over 31400 displaced, 22 dead, 400 injured

The two massive earthquakes that jolted Mindanao Island in the Philippines last week have left approximately 31,400 people displaced from their homes. According to the reports, the earthquake has further left 22 people dead, 400 injured and two people missing. Many people who were displaced are housed in evacuation centers in Cotabato and Davao Sur. Some have also taken shelter with friends and family. Southern Philippines was hit by a powerful 6.5 magnitude earthquake on October 31 and since then many houses have been damaged and some of them totally destroyed. 

The epicenter of the earthquake was located on the island of Mindanao, the US Geological Survey said. This is the same area where a strong tremor killed at least six people on Tuesday. The Geological survey added that there were no threats of he tsunami. As the Philippines is part of the Pacific "Ring of Fire", an arc of intense seismic activity that stretches from Japan through Southeast Asia and across the Pacific basin, tremors are regular in the country. Thursday's quake is the third since mid-October in the same area of Mindanao island which falls in the Southern part of the Philippines.

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The destruction caused by the earthquake

Magsaysay town spokesman had informed the media last week that a teenage boy was crushed by a falling wall as he tried to escape his school in the town. Other students were injured in stampede he added. Four others were killed by rocks and landslides while a collapsed wall crushed another man, authorities said. As per reports, a total of 50 people were hurt by falling debris, including some seven pupils and teachers hurt escaping their collapsed elementary school. Two weeks ago a 6.4-magnitude quake hit the Philippines that killed at least five people and damaged dozens of buildings.

On October 16, residents fled the Mindanao region and a mall caught fire in the city of General Santos shortly after the quake struck. That led to the displacement of hundreds within two weeks after that quake when the new one struck earlier this week. The deadliest of them all, hit the Philippines in April killing 16 as a building near the capital Manila collapsed and the secondary Clark airport was shut down due to damage to the passenger terminal. There were cracks in several walls and high rise buildings swayed after the quake.

(With agency inputs) 

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