Abra earthquake exacts heavy toll on Ilocos heritage sites

A view of the damaged Bantay Watchtower in the aftermath of an earthquake in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur, Philippines. - Reuters

LAOAG CITY, July 28 (Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN): A 16th-century cathedral at the heart of Vigan’s heritage district and an ancient watchtower that looms over the city are among the important heritage sites that sustained damage as a magnitude-7 earthquake rocked Ilocos Region, the Cordilleras and other parts of Luzon on Wednesday.

A survey of the impact of the morning tremors felt all the way to Metro Manila showed the extent of the destruction not only on life and property, but also on some of the country’s cultural assets in the North.