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All types of buildings, including several resort hotels in Baguio, known as the
Philippines’ Summer Capital, suffered tremendous damage. Most of the city’s
100,000 residents slept outdoors that evening and during the following week,
afraid to return to their homes amid the frequent aftershocks. For days, workers
pulled bodies from the demolished buildings in Baguio. The best estimate is that
1,000 bodies were eventually recovered. At least another 1,000 people suffered
serious injuries. Rescue efforts were hampered severely because the three main
roads into the city were blocked by landslides. Hundreds of motorists were
stranded on the roads as well. Outside of Baguio, a chemical factory fire also
caused terrible damage. The Tuba gold and copper mine in the area lost 30
workers when a mine collapsed.
Baguio, sitting on at least seven fault lines, is now listed as one of the most
risk-prone cities in Asia. In addition to the risk of earthquakes, the area’s high
annual rainfall increases the likelihood of deadly landslides.