Seven people have died and 120 others injured in a 6.7 magnitude earthquake that rattled Surigao City in the southern Philippines Friday night, the city mayor said Saturday.
Mayor Ernesto Matugas said that city officials have passed a resolution declaring the city a state of calamity, noting the earthquake was felt in all 54 villages of the city.
Matugas said that five of the people who were killed have already been identified, including a four-year-old boy and an 86-year-old man.
He said four of the victims died due to falling debris, one due to cardiac arrest and one was hit by a wall that collapsed in the tremor.
The strong earthquake struck Surigao City in Surigao del Norte province at around 10:03 p.m., causing power outage, damaging the airport runway, roads, bridges and buildings, including hotels and schools.
Airport authorities in Manila decided on Saturday to cancel flights to and from Surigao City.
In a statement, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines said that it has issued a notice to airmen that Surigao Airport will be closed until March 10 due to a damaged runway.
Tremors were also felt in neighboring provinces. The government has recorded at least 89 aftershocks after Friday’s earthquake.
Staff of a Surigao-based television station posted pictures of a two-story house with collapsed walls and a car with a fallen debris on top.
“Jesus Christ! That was a strong quake,” posted another male resident of the city named Ilmen Ronzkie.
He also posted pictures showing chaos of kitchen utensils such as plates, bowls, cups and saucers that fell on the floor.
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