No Filipinos reported hurt following strong quake in Sichuan, China — DFA

No Filipinos have been reported hurt following the 6.8 magnitude quake that hit Sichuan, China, according to the Department of Affairs (DFA) on Wednesday.

Charge d'Affaires Dinno Oblena, citing records of the Philippine Embassy in Beijing, said no Filipino resides in Ganzi County, Yaan City, the earthquake's epicenter.

“The DFA reports that there have been no Filipino casualties following the 6.8 magnitude earthquake that hit Sichuan Province on 5 September 2022. Per the records of the Philippine Embassy in Beijing, no Filipino resides in Ganzi County, Yaan City, the earthquake's epicenter,” Oblena said in a statement.

“The Embassy is reaching out to the Filipino community in Sichuan to check if there are affected Filipinos,” he added.

Oblena said the DFA continuously monitors the situation and is ready to assist the Filipino communities.

At least 46 people were killed when a strong earthquake struck southwestern China on Monday, state media reported, as violent tremors in a remote region damaged homes and left some areas without electricity.

Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said that 17 people died in Ya'an city, while 29 deaths were reported in neighboring Ganzi Prefecture.

Meanwhile, tremors shook buildings in the provincial capital of Chengdu -- where millions are confined to their homes under a strict Covid lockdown -- and in the nearby megacity of Chongqing, local residents told AFP. — Richa Noriega/RSJ, GMA News