Residents camp out in fear of more quakes in northern Philippines

Reuters

Fearful residents in the Philippine province of Abra spent the night sleeping outdoors after a powerful earthquake struck the northern island of Luzon, killing four people and injuring more than 130.

Some people in the area said on Thursday they had been too scared to return to their homes, camping out instead with their families on sidewalks and in parks to ensure their safety.

The 7.1 magnitude quake rattled the northern Philippine island of Luzon on Wednesday morning, damaging homes and buildings, including heritage structures and centuries-old churches. Seismologists have since recorded close to 800 aftershocks.

Erlinda Bisares, a resident in Bangued town in Abra, which was just 11 km from the epicentre, said she and her family did not want to risk going back home.

"We were so scared," Bisares told CNN Philippines, recalling how the quake had shaken her home and furniture. "We didn't mind our belongings, we just hurried outside. Life is more important."

Mark Timbal, a spokesperson for the national disaster agency, told reporters the death toll from the quake had been revised down to four from five, but the number of injured had risen to more than 130.

Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan told DZBB radio clearing up operations were underway and his agency had started to remove debris from the main roads in Abra and in other districts affected by rockslides triggered by the quake.

Ricardo Jalad, administrator of the Office of the Civil Defense, told radio station DZRH some parts of Abra were still without power or water and experiencing communication outages.

The budget ministry said authorities were ready to release funds for disaster relief.

More from International

  • China set for Shenzhou-20 spaceflight launch

    China is set to launch its Shenzhou-20 mission that will carry three astronauts to the Chinese space station Tiangong on Thursday (0917 GMT), state media said on Wednesday.

  • 6.2 magnitude earthquake hits Istanbul

    A 6.2 magnitude earthquake shook Istanbul and parts of Turkey on Wednesday, sparking widespread panic.

  • India downgrades ties with Pakistan

    India announced a raft of measures to downgrade its ties with Pakistan on Wednesday, a day after 26 men were killed in an attack on a tourist destination in India's Jammu and Kashmir territory.

  • Jordan bans activities by Muslim Brotherhood

    Jordan has outlawed the Muslim Brotherhood, the country's most vocal opposition group, and confiscated its assets after members of the outfit were found to be linked to a sabotage plot.

  • Death toll in India terror attack rises to 26

    Twenty-six people were killed and 17 were injured when gunmen opened fire at tourists in India's Jammu and Kashmir territory, police said on Wednesday, the worst such attack in the country in nearly two decades.