5 dead after magnitude 6.9 earthquake jolts Philippines

ISTANBUL

At least five people were reported dead after a magnitude 6.9 earthquake hit the Philippines on Tuesday, according to ABS-CBN News.

A sports complex collapsed in northern Cebu during a basketball game. Several people were reported dead and injured.

Four of the casualties were reported to be from the team responding to the collapse of the complex. One of the casualties was a Bureau of Fire Protection personnel, and three were Philippine Coast Guard members, according to Police Capt. Jan Ace Elcid Layug.

The fifth casualty was a child who was trapped in rubble in a separate location.

The epicenter of the quake that hit at 1359GMT on Tuesday, with a depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles), was initially determined to be in the northern Cebu region, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS).

USGS later adjusted the magnitude 7.0 on the Richter scale to 6.9.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) had issued a tsunami warning, which was later lifted.

The Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Bantayan Island was reported to have collapsed during the earthquake.

A fast-food chain building also partially collapsed in Bogo in the Cebu region.

Classes at schools were suspended for Wednesday in several parts of Cebu, including Lapu-Lapu, Mandaue, Talisay, Minglanilla, Consolacion and Liloan.

An ammonia leak at a beverage plant was contained by the firefighters in Mandaue after the tremor, while responders are on standby for the possible evacuation of residents.

Casualties were reported at the San Remigio municipality of Cebu, which has declared a state of calamity following widespread damage in the area.

*Aamir Latif in Karachi contributed to the report