Leyte, Philippines: On Thursday, July 6th, 2017, the central Philippines island of Leyte was struck by a magnitude 6.5 earthquake.  This was the same area devastated by Super Typhoon Yolanda in November of 2013.

According to the latest government reports, the quake resulted in 2 deaths and 72 injuries and has resulted in significant damage to the local power plant facilities.

We are truly praising God that there were not more injuries or fatalities.  The area struck is home to about 1.75  million people, as compared to Manila, which has well over 12 million people.

The Philippines sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” where earthquakes and volcanoes are common. A magnitude 7.7 quake killed nearly 2,000 people in the northern Philippines in 1990.  In October 2013, the island province of Bohol was struck by a 7.2 magnitude quake that left 222 dead and more than 900 injured.

According to our Philippine Micronesia Field Strategy Coordinator, Rev. Stephen Gualberto, Ormoc City is heavily affected.  Several houses in mountain barangays (small villages) are totally damaged and hundreds of families have been displaced. There have been no reports of Nazarenes being injured in the quake.

Updates will be provided as they are available.

Please commit to pray for those impacted by the quake and for the families of those who were injured or lost their lives.