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Magnitude-7.1 earthquake hits the Philippines

Posted at 7:36 PM, Oct 14, 2013
and last updated 2013-10-14 22:37:46-04

(CNN) — A magnitude-7.1 earthquake struck in the southeastern Philippines on Tuesday, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

The quake was centered about 391 miles (629 kilometers) south-southeast of Manila, near Balilihan, and its depth was 12 miles (20 kilometers) according to the USGS.

Maryann Zamora said it seemed like a dream at first, then everyone started running through the building she was in and things started to fall.

Zamora, a communications specialist with the charity World Vision, said there was glass and concrete in the streets of Cebu City, which is about 37 miles (60 kilometers) north of the epicenter.

“Right now we are in the streets because it is unsafe to be inside,” she said by phone, her voice shaking as one of more than 10 aftershocks hit. “Tell everyone to pray for us.”

She said it is a national holiday — Eidul Adha — and many people were relaxing when the earthquake rattled the country just after 8 a.m.

There was no widespread threat of a tsunami, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said, but it warned that earthquakes this large can sometimes cause tsunamis within 61 miles (100 kilometers) of the epicenter.

Balilihan, which has a population of 18,000, is in the province of Bohol.

The-CNN-Wire
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