CEBU, Philippine: At least 69 people have died, according to the still provisional toll, in a 6.9 magnitude earthquake that struck the centre of the central Philippines at 10 p.m. local time yesterday evening. The authorities in Cebu have declared a state of emergency after the earthquake, with its epicentre in the northern tip of the province at a depth of 10 km, damaged numerous buildings, roads, bridges and even places of worship, including churches. Rescuers are digging tirelessly through the rubble in search of survivors. Over 600 aftershocks have been recorded since the main earthquake.A strong earthquake jolted the central Philippines on Tuesday night, collapsing buildings and killing at least 69 people and injuring more than 150 others, the authorities said.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology reported that the 6.9-magnitude earthquake shook the province of Cebu, home to 3.2 million people, just before 10 p.m. local time. It was followed by a series of smaller aftershocks.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, the primary disaster-management agency in the Philippines, said that 69 people had been confirmed dead and at least 150 had been injured. At least 22 pieces of infrastructure were damaged, and three bridges and one road were not passable, according to the agency.
Government has ordered the immediate delivery of relief supplies, including water and medicine, to those affected, and has dispatched equipment to clear roads and help in rescue operations.
Officials in the province of South Cotabato also planned to dispatch relief supplies and a medical team to Cebu, she said.
Most of the dead came from Bogo District in Cebu, the authorities said. Eleven of them were in the town of San Remigio.
Four of the San Remigio victims had been playing basketball in a sports complex that collapsed.
Video courtesy: France 24
