Follow Philippines Immigration and Philippines News: On October 15, local time, a powerful 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck Bohol Province in the Philippines, causing numerous buildings to collapse, roads to be destroyed, and bridges to break.
As of the 16th, the 7.2-magnitude earthquake in the central Philippines has claimed 150 lives. Rescue workers are still penetrating isolated areas, but the hope of finding survivors is becoming increasingly slim.
As of the evening of the 16th, the death toll in the hardest-hit Bohol Island and surrounding areas rose from 93 to 151. Rescue efforts are ongoing, but no miracles of survival have occurred.
In the town of Loon, located just 20 kilometers from the epicenter, survivors in this coastal town of 40,000 people are attempting to search for survivors in the rubble with their bare hands. "We hold the highest hopes, but the scene is so desperate that, other than words of comfort, there is nothing we can do," said a local priest standing in front of the destroyed church.
It is reported that Loon is one of the worst-hit areas in this earthquake, with a total of 42 people killed. Although most people joined the rescue efforts on the 16th, the relief work is progressing slowly due to a lack of heavy machinery.
Philippine President Benigno Aquino III has arrived in Bohol and Cebu to oversee rescue operations and attempt to comfort the survivors. Aquino stated, "At the very least, we do not have to worry about anything stronger than Tuesday's earthquake occurring."
