Three Quakes (5.4, 5.9, 5.7) Hit Philippines

Multiple casualties, houses damaged after series of quakes hits Philippines (PHOTOS, VIDEOS)

Manolo Manuel

At least 8 people have been killed and dozens injured after a series of powerful earthquakes struck the northern Philippines archipelago province of Batanes.

Substantial damage is being reported in Itbayat municipality after two consecutive earthquakes measuring 5.4 and 5.9 struck the region around 4:16am and 7:30am local time, followed by an aftershock. Amid ongoing large scale rescue operations a third quake measuring 5.7 struck the same area at 09:24am.

LOOK: Houses were damaged following the back-to-back earthquakes in Itbayat, Batanes.

Credit: Steve Labrador, Executive Secretary of Gov. Marilou H. Cayco pic.twitter.com/QqJ8RESVoa

— Philippine Red Cross (@philredcross) July 27, 2019

Eight people were killed and 60 others injured, according to preliminary information from Batanes Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.

All of the jolts were centered within 15 kilometers of Itbayat. The municipality, which is home to roughly 3,000 people, has suffered a power outage.

WATCH: Situation after a 6.4 magnitude quake shook Itbayat, Batanes at 7:38 am Saturday, about three hours after a 5.4 quake jolted the northernmost municipality, according to @phivolcs_dost. 

🎥 | Dominic De Sagon Asa pic.twitter.com/y17yytMNIR

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) July 27, 2019

A historic Maria de Mayan church was damaged. Some damage has also been reported in the local Jorge Abad airport. 

Damaged ancestral stone homes in Brgy. Santa Maria after a magnitute 6.4 quake hit Itbayat, Batanes this morning.

Photo by Analyn Dita Nico pic.twitter.com/hgZRIy6t8I

LOOK: Damage caused by magnitude 5.4 earthquake in Itbayat, Batanes earlier this morning.

Photos by Jing Noblejas pic.twitter.com/sap8Nhl9ie