Time Out Mission International
Encouraging Intimacy, Uniting the Church, Empowering for Mission6.9 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE HIT IN THE PHILIPPINES KILLED DOZENS OF PEOPLE
Monday's 6.9-magnitude earthquake in the Philippines killed more than 20 people, left many more missing and destroyed roads, homes and other property after it struck Negros Island.
The quake was caused when an undersea fault shifted 44 miles north of Dumaguete, the capital of Negros Oriental province, about 400 miles southeast of Manila. The earthquake struck at a depth of 29 miles below the surface, according to the Associated Press.
Dozens of people were still missing Tuesday following a strong earthquake that triggered landslides and damaged buildings and roads on a central Philippine island. The death toll reached 22, but officials said it was likely to rise further as rescuers struggle to reach remote areas.
Monday's magnitude-6.9 quake also collapsed bridges on Negros Island, forcing soldiers and firefighters to hike mountains to reach remote villages. Most of the confirmed deaths were in Planas village, a part of Guihulngan town where some 30 houses were buried under concrete debris.
Disaster council officer in Negros Oriental province, said the death toll was likely to rise. There were reports of at least 14 more deaths, but the number will be added to the official count only after authorities verify that the bodies have been recovered, he said. One of the dead not yet included in the count was a young woman whose body was dug out of a landslide in the mountain village of Solongon in La Libertad town. An unknown number of people were trapped there when a part of the mountain collapsed on about 100 houses.
Television showed footage of the woman's parents waiting at the landslide site after her body was retrieved late Tuesday by soldiers using shovels. The report said the woman had managed to send a text message to her relatives hours earlier telling them she was still alive and pleading for rescuers to hurry.
Guihulngan Mayor Ernesto Reyes said crews were using backhoes to try to rescue people, but he added that at the rate deaths were being reported, the town may run out of coffins.
The damage may be worse the officials realized because the quake cut off communications to some villages. "No water and power because electric posts were toppled," Many of roads were damaged, including bridges, and stores are closed.
The damage caused by the powerful quake is clearly visible. Feel free to view http://www.facebook.com/apeterbel
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