Residents afraid to return home after earthqauke in Philippines

Manila, Philippines - Residents were too afraid to return to their homes as aftershocks rocked a blacked-out northern Philippines on Wednesday, hours after a strong earthquake injured at least 26 people and damaged schools, churches and other buildings.

The 6.4-magnitude quake struck the mountain town of Dolores in Abra province late on Tuesday, cutting power to most of the region.

Numerous aftershocks rattled Abra through the night and into Wednesday morning, authorities said. Rescuers pulled out 10 residents from damaged buildings in Ilocos Norte, where 15 people sustained injuries, authorities said. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr ordered a school holiday as authorities assessed damaged buildings and said electricity was being restored.

A building housing a gallery of photos of the presidency of his father, Ferdinand Marcos Sr, in their home city of Batac was among those damaged. “People are asking for tents, and the reason why is they are afraid of going back to their houses because of the aftershocks, which could collapse their houses with the foundations weakened,” Marcos Jr told reporters.

Several patients spent most of the night outside two government hospitals in Ilocos Norte after ceilings collapsed on several rooms in one and damaged equipment, officials said.

All patients and staff were safe but the outpatient department of one of the two facilities was closed while the building

was being inspected. Rescuer Ron Sequerra said his family had been woken by strong shaking near the epicentre in Abra.