Strong earthquake of magnitude 7 jolts central Philippines, no tsunami warning

A powerful 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck central Philippines on Tuesday, causing partial collapse of the centuries-old Parish of Saint Peter the Apostle in Bantayan, Cebu. Videos of the heritage church crumbling, with its outer façade falling and lights toppling, have been widely shared across social media platforms.

Martham Pacilan, a 25-year-old resident of Bantayan, described the terrifying moment, telling AFP, “I heard a loud booming noise from the direction of the church, then I saw rocks falling from the structure. Luckily no one got hurt. I was in shock and in panic at the same time, but my body couldn’t move; I was just there waiting for the shake to stop.”

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) advised residents on the central islands of Leyte, Cebu, and Biliran to “stay away from the beach and not to go to the coast” due to a potential minor sea-level disturbance. However, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre confirmed that there is no tsunami threat from the earthquake and stated that “no action is required”.