Some residents of Abra province revealed they were sleeping outside on Thursday because they were too scared to return home. Residents instead chose to sleep on sidewalks and in parks to ensure their safety, according to Reuters.
The decision to sleep outside came after an earthquake measuring 7.1 on the Richter scale shook the island of Luzon on Wednesday.
The earthquake damaged homes and buildings, including heritage structures and centuries-old churches.
Seismologists have since recorded nearly 800 aftershocks.
The incident reportedly resulted in the death of four people and injured 130.
JUST INSIDE: Earthquake in Luzon: earthquake measuring 7.1 on the Richter scale leaves Philippines fears of damage
Erlinda Bisares, a resident of Bangued, told CNN Philippines, “We didn’t mind our stuff, we just rushed out. Life is more important.”
However, the Philippines is prone to natural disasters and is located within the “Ring of Fire,” a band of fault lines that curve along the edge of the Pacific Ocean.
Earthquakes are common and there are an average of 20 typhoons a year, some of which cause deadly landslides.
Manuel Bonoan, the Philippine Minister of Public Works and Roads, said a cleanup operation is already underway.
The great Luzon earthquake of July 1990 had a magnitude of 7.7 at a depth of 25 km.
The 1990 Luzon earthquake struck the island of Luzon in the Philippines at 4:26 p.m. (local time) on July 16 (PDT) or 3:26 p.m. (PST) with an estimated moment magnitude of 7.7 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (violent ) and caused a 125 km ground fault extending from Dingalan, Aurora to Kayapa, Nueva Vizcaya.