A magnitude 7 earthquake rocked the northern part of Luzon on Wednesday morning, with the epicenter located in the province of Abra and was felt in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.
In an advisory, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) said the strong quake occurred around 8:43 AM and was located at Tayum, Abra. It had a depth of 25 kilometers.
PHIVOLCS Director Usec. Renato Solidum said in an interview with DZRH that it is considered a "major earthquake" following the intensity felt in several areas and the magnitude recorded by their agency.
Initially, the agency pegged the earthquake’s magnitude at 7.3.
The quake, which was tectonic in origin, was felt at the following intensities:
- Intensity VII - Bucloc and Manabo, Abra
- Intensity VI - Vigan City, Sinait, Bantay, San Esteban, Ilocos Sur; Laoac, Pangasinan; Baguio City;
- Intensity V - Magsingal and San Juan, Ilocos Sur, Alaminos City and Labrador, Pangasinan; Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya; Mexico, Pampanga; Concepcion, and Tarlac City, Tarlac; City of Manila; City of Malabon;
- Intensity IV - City of Marikina; Quezon City; City of Pasig; City of Valenzuela; City of Tabuk, Kalinga; Bautista and Malasiqui, Pangasinan; Bayombong and Diadi, Nueva Vizcaya; Guiguinto, Obando, and San Rafael, Bulacan; San Mateo, Rizal
- Intensity III - Bolinao, Pangasinan; Bulakan, Bulacan; Tanay, Rizal
- Intensity II - General Trias City, Cavite; Santa Rosa City, Laguna
Aftershocks and damages are expected, according to PHIVOLCS.
Damages reported
Some local government units confirmed damages to properties and buildings, including churches, following the strong quake.
In a statement, Abra Representative Ching Bernos said the quake "caused damages to many households and establishments" in the province.
"We are monitoring the situation on the ground and gathering information on the extent of the damage to the province," she said.
Parts of the famous tourist spot in Ilocos Sur, the Bantay Bell Tower were seen collapsing due to the earthquake in a video shared by Edison Adducul on Facebook.
Meanwhile, Mayor Rovelyn Villamor of Lagangilang, Abra also confirmed that aftershocks are still felt in their area.
"May mga establishments at bahay na nasira, may mga kalsadang nag-crack. Nag-umpisa nang mag-ikot ang NDRRM namin," she said.
According to Cagayan Provincial Information Office, big rocks fell on the side of Bauko-Mabaay Road in Mountain Province due to the magnitude 7 quake.
Cracks were also seen on the walls of the facade of Vigan Cathedral in Ilocos Sur following the major quake.
LOOK: Hindi nakaligtas sa lakas ng lindol na tumama sa Abra ang Vigan Cathedral. #EarthquakePH
— DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) July 27, 2022
📷: Arlene Alegre Gajeton
Sa pag-iingat, #SamaSamaTayoPilipino pic.twitter.com/WrFiplsVl7
The Boroan, Longilong, Datakan, Kapangan, Benguet Road in Baguio City, on the other hand, is currently unpassable to vehicles due to the landslide caused by the quake.
Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong also suspended work and classes in public and private sectors following the earthquake.
Boroan, Longilong, Datakan, Kapangan, Benguet road hindi passable dahil sa landslide na nangyari kasunod ng malakas na lindol. | DZRH News
— DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) July 27, 2022
Sa pag-iingat, #SamaSamaTayoPilipino pic.twitter.com/aQiC7lgyZV
Trains stopped
In Metro Manila, operations of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 and Light Rail Transit Lines 1 and 2 were temporarily halted on Wednesday morning following the quake.
The Philippine National Railways also said its trips for Metro North and Metro South Commuter Service will be temporarily suspended until their Engineering Departments certify that the tracks are safe.
