Thomas Markle, the father of Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle, has revealed his terrifying ordeal during a powerful earthquake that struck the Philippines this week.
The 79-year-old former lighting director was visiting the Southeast Asian nation when a 6.7 magnitude quake rocked the region, sending residents and tourists scrambling for safety.
'The Ground Was Literally Moving'
In an exclusive interview, Markle described the moment the earthquake struck: "I was sitting in my hotel room when suddenly everything started shaking violently. The ground was literally moving beneath my feet, and I could hear things crashing around me."
"It was one of the most frightening experiences of my life," he admitted. "The building was swaying so much I thought it might collapse."
Chaotic Evacuation Scene
Markle detailed the chaotic scenes that followed as hotel guests and staff evacuated the building: "People were screaming and running in all directions. The emergency alarms were blaring, and there was genuine panic in the air."
He praised the quick response of local authorities and hotel staff, noting that despite the chaos, evacuation procedures were efficiently implemented once the initial tremors subsided.
Continuing His Visit Despite the Scare
Despite the terrifying experience, the Duchess of Sussex's father has decided to continue with his planned visit to the country. "I'm not going to let this scare me away," Markle stated. "The Filipino people have been wonderful, and I want to see more of this beautiful country."
The earthquake, which struck the Mindanao region, caused significant damage to infrastructure and buildings, though no casualties have been reported from Markle's immediate location.
This personal account from Meghan Markle's father adds a human dimension to the natural disaster that has affected thousands in the Philippines, reminding us all of nature's unpredictable power.
