 "20 killed after 6.9 magnitude earthquake hits Philippines, search ops ongoing")
A 6.9-magnitude earthquake in the Philippines has killed 20 people so far after it struck the island of Cebu at 9:50 pm local time on Tuesday.
Local media have reported that rescuers conducted search operations throughout the night to look for casualties after Tuesday night’s quake damaged buildings, roads and knocked out power in parts of the region.
The epicentre of the quake, which was set off by a local fault, was about 17 kilometres (10 miles) northeast of Bogo, disaster-mitigation officer Rex Ygot told The Associated Press by telephone.
Officials fear that the death toll in Bogo may rise as workers are trying to transport a backhoe to hasten search and rescue efforts in a cluster of shanties in a mountain village hit by a landslide and boulders.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology briefly issued a tsunami warning and advised people to stay away from the coastlines in Cebu and in the nearby provinces of Leyte and Biliran due to possible waves of up to 1 meter (3 feet).
Quake leaves a trail of destruction
San Remigio town, located in the south of Bogo, reported the deaths of six people, including three coast guard personnel, a firefighter and a child. The quake damaged the concrete walls of houses, a fire station, and concrete and asphalt roads, firefighter Rey Cañete told the AP.
“We were in our barracks to retire for the day when the ground started shaking and we rushed out but stumbled to the ground because of the intense shaking,” Cañete told, adding that he and three other firemen sustained cuts and bruises.
Hundreds of frightened residents gathered in the dark on a grassy field near the fire station, unwilling to return to their homes for hours after the earthquake struck Bogo.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsAccording to Cañete, several businesses showed visible damage, and the asphalt and concrete roads in the area were split by deep cracks. He also reported that an old Roman Catholic church in the nearby town of Daanbantayan sustained damage.
With inputs from agencies
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