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Deadly Philippine quake hits Bohol and Cebu | |
(35 minutes later) | |
More than 30 people have been reported dead after an earthquake measuring 7.2 magnitude hit the central Philippines. | |
The US Geological Survey said the quake struck below the island of Bohol, known for its sandy beaches. | |
People were killed as structures collapsed in Bohol and nearby Cebu province. Several buildings and churches were damaged by the quake. | |
The quake struck at 08:12 (00:12GMT) on a national holiday in the country. | The quake struck at 08:12 (00:12GMT) on a national holiday in the country. |
Officials said at least 16 people were confirmed dead in Bohol and 15 in Cebu, considered the Philippines' second city. One 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 Agence-France Presse news agency. | |
The tremor triggered power outages in parts of Bohol, Cebu and neighbouring areas, say reports citing the country's disaster management agency. | |
Cebu officials have declared a state of calamity in the province. | |
Edgardo Chatto, the governor of Bohol, said a city hall building was damaged on the island. | |
Heavy damage to 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. | British man David Venables, who has lived in Cebu for seven years, said it was the strongest quake he had experienced. |
"It's a very strange and frightening experience when the very foundations of the house and surrounding area shake uncontrollably," he said. | "It's 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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