Powerful quake kills at least six in southern Philippines
Reuters
February 11, 2017 20:20 MYT
February 11, 2017 20:20 MYT
Fallen debris from a building are seen Saturday, Feb. 11, 2017 following a powerful nighttime earthquake that rocked Surigao city, Surigao del Norte province in southern Philippines. - AP Photo
A POWERFUL earthquake struck the island of Mindanao, in the southern Philippines, killing at least 6 people and injuring over a hundred people, disaster officials said on Saturday (February 11).
The 6.7 earthquake occurred at a depth of 10 km and the epicentre was about 13 km east of the city of Surigao, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.
A report by the Surigao Del Norte regional disaster agency said power lines in Surigao City were cut and several structures were badly damaged. Surigao's airport was closed due to cracks in the runway.
At least 6 casualties, including a four-year old boy, were reported, while over 108 were injured, it said.
The earthquake was the strongest since the city was rocked by a 6.9 quake in 1879, according to the head of the Philippines' seismic agency.
The Philippines on the geologically active Pacific Ring of Fire and experiences frequent earthquakes.