Buildings are demaged at the 5.8-magnitude shallow quake in the northeast coast of Mindanao island.(Photo: The Pioneer)
Hanoi (VNA) - Fifty-one people were injured and severalhomes, churches and other buildings damaged on July 13 when an earthquake sentterrified residents of the southern Philippines fleeing their homes beforedawn, local police said.
The 5.8-magnitude shallow quake struck the northeast coastof Mindanao island at 4:42 am (2042 GMT Friday), with the Philippine seismologyoffice recording seven less intense aftershocks.
Patients were also evacuated briefly at the Madrid DistrictHospital, near the epicenter, which sustained cracks on its concrete walls. Theroof of an old car park in the district collapsed, causing slight damage to thetown's two fire trucks and three cars.
The impact was also felt in four neighbouring towns,damaging homes, two Catholic churches, a hotel, a gym, a bridge and a publicmarket, while toppled power pylons blocked a key road.
The US Geological Service said the quake occurred at a depthof 11.8 km.
The Philippines is part of the Pacific "Ring ofFire", an arc of intense seismic activity that stretches from quake-proneJapan through Southeast Asia and across the Pacific basin.
The country's most recent deadly quake occurred in Aprilwhen at least 11 people were killed and a supermarket collapsed in a6.3-magnitude tremor that hit a region north of the capital Manila.-VNA
VNA
