2020 Masbate earthquake

On August 18, 2020, at 8:03 PST, a 6.6 magnitude earthquake struck the island province of Masbate in the Philippines, leaving at least 2 dead and 170 injured.

Earthquake

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology initially reported a magnitude 6.5 earthquake striking at 8:03am Philippine Standard Time in Cataingan, Masbate. The report was later revised to a magnitude 6.6 earthquake. The earthquake was also felt in several parts of Luzon and the Visayas. The fault from which the earthquake originated is the Masbate segment of the Philippine fault system.

Damage

Several houses and buildings in Cataingan, Masbate collapsed due to the earthquake, including a three-story building, its old and new public market, a police station, and the docking area of Cataingan Port. Several roads and buildings throughout Masbate were also damaged according to the Office of Civil Defense of the Bicol Region. Power lines were also toppled down in the province, resulting in an unscheduled power interruption.

Casualties

At least 170 people were injured, while 2 were confirmed dead; one retired policeman died after getting trapped when his house collapsed in Cataingan and one had a heart attack.