Old church in Daanbantayan damaged badly in Cebu earthquake

A church that is more than a hundred years old suffered heavy damage after the Magnitude 6.7 earthquake that hit Cebu on Tuesday night.

DYSS Super Radyo Cebu reported that the Archdiocesan Shrine of Santa Rosa de Lima in Daanbantayan, Cebu collapsed after the earthquake.

The Facebook post of the church reported a "partial collapse."

The shrine on its Facebook page announced the cancellation of masses until further notice.

It also asked the public not to touch the coral stones in the church vicinity after the collapse.

Magnitude 6.9

A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck Bogo City in Cebu on Tuesday evening.

The earthquake occurred at 9:59 p.m., according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS).

The epicenter of the earthquake was located at 11.09°N, 124.13°E - 017 km N 73° E of City Of Bogo (Cebu).

The quake was initially reported as a magnitude 6.7 before being upgraded to 6.9. It had a depth of 5 km and was tectonic in origin.

Intensities

Intensity V was experienced in Argao, Cebu; City of Sipalay, Negros Occidental, City of Lapu-Lapu, Tacloban City.

PHIVOLCS said Intensity IV was recorded in San Fernando, Cebu; Bulan, Bulusan, and Casiguran, Sorsogon; City of Roxas in Capiz; City of Himamaylan, Negros Occidental; Ubay, Bohol; Lawaan, Eeastern Samar; Laoang, Northern Samar; City of Catbalogan, Samar; City of Dipolog  in Zamobanga del Norte.

Intensity III was felt in San Fernando, Cebu and Intensity II in Laoang in Northern Samar; Legazpi City in Albay; Iriga City in Camarines Sur; Donsol, Sorsogon; and Tibiao, Antique, PHIVOLCS said.

Tsunami advisory

After the earthquake, PHIVOLCS issued a tsunami advisory for a minor sea level disturbance expected in some coastal areas with wave heights of less than one meter above the expected ocean tides.

"People are advised to stay away from the beach and not to go to the coast. People whose houses are located very near the shoreline are advised to move farther inland," PHIVOLCS said.

"Owners of boats in harbors, estuaries or shallow coastal waters of the affected provinces should secure their boats and move away from the waterfront," it added.

"Boats already at sea are advised to stay offshore in deep waters until further notified," PHIVOLCS said. –NB, GMA Integrated News