7.2-magnitude quake hits central Philippines, killing at least 4

Monday, October 14, 2013, 8:48 PM -

A 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck in the central Philippines on Tuesday morning, collapsing roofs and buildings, cracking walls and roads and killing at least four people. 

The quake was centred 56 km deep below Carmen town on Bohol Island and was felt across the region. 

Radio station DZMM quoted civil defence officials as saying that four people died when part of a fish port collapsed in nearby Cebu city, across the strait from Bohol. 

The roof of a market in Mandaue in Cebu province also collapsed, injuring 19 people, according to TV reports. People rushed out of buildings and homes, including hospitals as aftershocks continued. 

Photos from Cebu broadcast on TV stations showed a fallen concrete 2-story building, and reports said two people were pulled alive, including an 8-month-old baby. 

Bohol Gov. Edgardo Chatto said that a church was reported damaged in the provincial capital of Tagbilaran and a part of the city hall collapsed, injuring one person. 

Earthquakes are common in the Philippines, which lies along the Pacific "Ring of Fire.'' 

Cebu province, about 570 km south of Manila, has a population of more than 2.6 million people. Nearby Bohol has 1.2 million people and is popular among foreigners because of its beach and island resorts. 

This is the second major natural disaster to hit the country this month. At least 13 people were killed over weekend as Typhoon Nari lashed the northern region.

With files from The Associated Press