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EARTHQUAKE WREAKS HAVOC IN THE PHILIPPINES

More than 1,000 people are killed when a 7.7-magnitude earthquake strikes Luzon Island in
the Philippines on this day in 1990.The massive tremor wreaked havoc across a sizeable
portion of Luzon, the country’s largest island, with Baguio City suffering the most devastating
effects. The epicentre of the quake, which struck at 4:26 pm, was north of Manila in the Nueva
Ecija province. Reports indicate that the shaking went on for nearly a full minute. Collapsing
buildings were the main cause of damage and death. Getting out of a multi-story building was a
good safely precaution that afternoon, although many people were injured and a few even died
in stampedes of others doing the same thing.
At Christian College, a six-story building completely collapsed, trapping approximately 250
students and teachers inside. Heroic rescue efforts saved many, but some victims who did not
die in the collapse were found dead later from dehydration because they were not pulled out in
time.
All types of buildings, including several resort hotels in Baguio, known as the Philippines
Summer Capital, suffered tremendous damage. Most of the city’s 100,000 residents slept
outdoors that evening and during the following week, afraid to return to their homes amid the
frequent aftershocks. For days, workers pulled bodies from the demolished buildings in Baguio.
The best estimate is that 1,000 bodies were eventually recovered. Atleast another 1,000 people
suffered serious injuries. Rescue efforts were hampered severely because the three main roads
into the city were blocked by landslides. Hundreds of motorists were stranded on the roads as
well.