(Eagle News) — Five were reported killed after a 6.1 magnitude quake hit the Philippines’ main island of Luzon late Monday afternoon, April 22, all from Pampanga, while more people were reported trapped in a collapsed building in the town of Porac.
Pampanga Governor Lilia Pineda said that at least two buildings collapsed in the province.
Three people were killed with a building collapsed in Porac town in Pampanga, while another two were crushed to death in the town of Lubao, she said in a television interview.
Initially, there were two confirmed dead in the Porac building collapse.
The welcome arch in Pampanga was also heavily damaged after the quake.
Vice-Governor Dennis Pineda said a small grocery in Porac collapsed, trapping people inside.
Pineda told Philippine government-owned PTV-4 that the initial reports they received said that there were 30 people trapped inside the collapsed building, and that a church also collapsed in Porac after the quake.
“Ang priority namin right now is to mobilize crane equipment para matanggal ang mga debris,” he said.
The official also confirmed that an old church in the town of Porac also collapsed.
“Pati po simbahan ng Porac ay bumagsak po ngayon,” he added.
The vice-governor also asked for help that the roads to Porac should be cleared so that help could come to them.
“Ang priority po namin ay ang Porac,” he said as he noted that the town appeared to be the hardest hit by the 6.1 magnitude quake.
-Clark airport suspends operations –
Parts of the province is in darkness after the quake caused massive blackout due to toppled electric posts.
In Angeles, Pampanga, the Clark International Airport also had extensive damages because of the quake.
Operations in the airport had been suspended for 24 hours following the quake’s damage to the facilities.
