Pictures obtained by The Filipino Times of St. Catherine’s Parish in Porac, Pampanga show the extent of damage caused.
Monday afternoon’s magnitude 6.3 jolt that saw tall buildings in Metro Manila swaying wildly, its occupants rushing out in frenzied panic, also did not spare a centuries-old church in Porac, Pampanga – the town which bore the brunt of the tremor.
For ages, the townspeople have gone used to hearing mass and doing all other religious activities at the church, which now obviously is in dire need of repairs.
Death toll has risen to 11 – all in Porac – as search and rescue operations continued unhampered overnight especially at a supermarket that was almost levelled by the earthquake.
Clark International Airport also sustained extensive damage.
