Manila: An earthquake measuring 5.0 on the Richter scale struck western Philippines on Wednesday.
According to Qatar News Agency, the US Geological Survey reported that the epicenter was at a depth of 65 kilometers. Prior to this, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck southern Philippines on Monday, resulting in the deaths of at least 41 people and injuries to more than 450 others. Several people remain missing as search and rescue operations continue, with landslides causing widespread damage in the affected areas.
The Philippines frequently experiences volcanic and seismic activity due to its location along the Pacific Ring of Fire, where tectonic plates meet. The country annually experiences hundreds of earthquakes, ranging from minor tremors to significant ones. The recent Mindanao earthquake ranks among the strongest to hit the Philippines in recent decades, evoking memories of the 1976 earthquake, which measured 8.1 on the Richter scale, and the 1990 earthquake, which measured 7.8 on the Richter scale. Both historical quakes claimed thousands of lives, injured many more, and are considered among the worst natural disasters in the country's modern history.