A 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck the Philippines’ Cebu province on Tuesday night, killing 60 people and injuring about 150. According to an AP report, the death toll is expected to rise. Many people have been pulled out of the rubble so far.
Rescue teams have been conducting rescue operations since Tuesday night. The US Geological Survey (USGS) initially reported the earthquake as 7.0 in magnitude, but later lowered it to 6.9.
The epicenter of the earthquake was near the city of Bogo on the island of Cebu, which has a population of 90,000. After the initial earthquake, four more aftershocks of magnitude 5 or higher were felt in the area. People rushed out of their homes as soon as they felt the earthquake.
The Philippines is located near the Ring of Fire, which makes earthquakes common here. The region is home to several continental and oceanic tectonic plates.
These plates collide, causing earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions. 90% of the world’s earthquakes occur in this Ring of Fire region.
The region stretches for 40,000 kilometers. It is home to 75% of the world’s active volcanoes.
Japan, Russia, the Philippines, Indonesia, New Zealand, Antarctica, Canada, the United States, Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Peru, Ecuador, Chile, and Bolivia are located near the Ring of Fire.
