Deadly Philippine quake hits Bohol and Cebu By Breaking News Tuesday, 15 October 2013 16:09 People walk past the damaged Church of San Pedro in the Philippine town of Loboc, Bohol after earthquake struck on Oct. 15, 2013 (AFP) At least 73 people have been reported dead after a magnitude-7.2 earthquake hit the central Philippines. The US Geological Survey said the quake struck below the island of Bohol, known for its sandy beaches, where officials reported most of the casualties. People were also killed as structures collapsed in nearby Cebu province. The quake struck at 08:12 (00:12 GMT) on a national holiday in the country. Several buildings and historic churches were damaged by the quake. At least 57 people were confirmed dead in Bohol, reports Agence-France Presse (AFP) news agency. Fifteen people were killed in Cebu, considered the Philippines second major city, and another was reported dead from the neighbouring island of Siquijor. Dozens of others were also being treated for injuries. At least five people died when part of a fishing port collapsed in Cebu, reports the Associated Press (AP) news agency. Two more people died and others were injured when a roof at a market fell, AP adds. At least three people also died during a stampede at a sports complex in Cebu, provincial disaster chief Neil Sanchez said. There was panic when the quake happened and there was a rush toward the exit, he told AFP. The tremor triggered power cuts in parts of Bohol, Cebu and neighbouring areas, say reports citing the countrys disaster management agency. Officials from Bohol and Cebu have declared a state of calamity in their respective provinces, local media say. President Benigno Aquino is expected to visit the affected areas on Wednesday. Edgardo Chatto, the governor of Bohol, said a city hall building was damaged on the island. Heavy damage to roads, bridges and historic churches, some dating back to the Spanish colonial period in the 1500s and the 1600s, was also reported in Bohol and Cebu. British man David Venables, who has lived in Cebu for seven years, said it was the strongest quake he had experienced. Its a very strange and frightening experience when the very foundations of the house and surrounding area shake uncontrollably, he said. Bonita Cabiles, a resident of Mandaue city in Cebu, told the BBC said she was woken up when she felt the ground rumbling. She said there was a lot of structural damage in the area, including to the bell tower of the Santo Nino church in Cebu, one of the most well-known churches in the country. It was fortunate that it was a national holiday and the students were not in school, she said. There were reports of aftershocks following the quake. Cebu province, with a population of more than 2.6m, is about an hour away by plane from Manila. Neighbouring Bohol, a favourite of tourists because of its sandy beaches, is a short boat ride away from Cebu.
Posted on: Tue, 15 Oct 2013 16:02:40 +0000
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