13 dead, 40 missing in Philippines quake

PanARMENIAN.Net - A strong earthquake destroyed buildings and triggered landslides that buried dozens of houses, trapping residents, Monday, February 6 in the central Philippines, CBC News reported.

At least 13 people were reported killed and 40 reported missing.

The 6.8-magnitude quake, in a narrow strait just off Negros Island, caused a landslide in Guihulngan, a city of about 180,000 people in Negros Oriental province. As many as 30 houses were buried, Mayor Ernesto Reyes said.

"Their situation is bad because if you are covered by landslide for one hour, two hours, how can you breathe?" he said. "But we just hope for the best, that there are still survivors." Rescuers were using picks and shovels to dig for survivors, he said.

Reyes said at least 10 people were confirmed dead in his town, including students at a college and an elementary school and others in a market that collapsed. About 100 were injured.

The quake, which hit at 11:49 a.m. local time, triggered another landslide in the mountain village of Solongon in La Libertad town, also in Negros Oriental. An unknown number of people were trapped, said La Libertad police Chief Insp. Eric Arrol Besario.