Philippines quake death toll rises to 144
Print Edition
The death toll from an earthquake in the Philippines rose to 144 yesterday as rescuers dug through the rubble of collapsed buildings including an old church and a hospital.
Nearly 3 million people were affected by the 7.2 magnitude quake on Tuesday, which caused landslides and widespread damage to infrastructure in the tourist destinations of Bohol island and the nearby Cebu islands.
The number of injured rose towards 300, with at least 23 people missing.
The national disaster agency said 134 of the dead were on Bohol, which took the brunt of quake. Officials feared the toll would rise as communications with remote areas were re-established.
“I think this is a growing number,” Loon Mayor Lloyd Lopez told Philippine radio. “Yesterday, we had a partial communications block-out.”
“We have not reached all barangays, many are cut off, the roads are blocked by big boulders,” Lopez said, referring to villages.
Mobile phone links from the country’s main provider have been restored but a rival provider still has to fix some of its damaged equipment.
Many of the millions hit by the quake spent the night outdoors, including patients at some hospitals, because of aftershocks. More than 840 aftershocks have been recorded, with one of magnitude 5.1, the volcanology agency said.
Most of 23 damaged bridges in Bohol were impassable and five roads were closed. Seventeen churches suffered irreparable damage to their old coral-stone structures.
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