At least 31 people have been killed in a powerful 6.9-magnitude earthquake that rocked the central Philippines, knocking out power lines and sending people running out into the streets.
The epicentre was about 12 miles northeast of Bogo, a coastal city of about 90,000 people in Cebu province. At least 14 residents have died, according to authorities.
The quake was set off by movement in a local fault at a depth of three miles, officials said.
The number of people killed is expected to rise as search and rescue operations are under way, officials said.
In the town of Medellin, near Bogo, at least 12 residents died when the ceilings and walls of their homes collapsed, with some asleep at the time, said Gemma Villamor, head of the local disaster office.
In nearby San Remigio, five people – including three coastguard members, a firefighter, and a child – were killed by collapsing walls while fleeing a basketball game, said vice mayor Alfie Reynes, who also revealed the quake damaged the town’s water system.
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Businesses and landmark buildings have suffered damage, including an old Catholic church in the town of Daanbantayan, and roads showed deep cracks.
Cebu governor Pamela Baricuatro warned the full extent of damage and injuries in Bogo and nearby towns would only be clear by daylight, cautioning the situation might be worse than expected.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology briefly issued a tsunami warning for Cebu and nearby provinces, but later lifted it after no unusual waves were detected.
The quake struck while Cebu and surrounding areas were still recovering from a severe storm that hit the central region days earlier, killing at least 27 people mainly from drownings and fallen trees, cutting power across cities, and forcing evacuations.
The Philippines, located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, is highly prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
It also faces around 20 typhoons and storms annually, making it one of the world’s most disaster-prone nations.
This story originally appeared on Skynews
