Strong quake strikes central Philippines, two dead

Feb 6, 2012, 7:57 GMT

Manila - A strong earthquake jolted central Philippine islands Monday, killing two schoolchildren and causing panic and damages to buildings.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said the quake's magnitude was 6.9 and was felt at the strongest intensity of 7 on the central island of Negros.

The epicenter was located at 5 kilometres north-west of Tayasan town on Negros Oriental province.

Police said two children were killed by collapsed walls in their schools during the quake, which struck just shortly before lunchtime.

Nine-year-old Bernadeth Raidan was killed when a concrete wall collapsed in the village of Matuog, police officer Bernard Erojo said.

'She was about to have lunch when the earthquake struck,' he said.

In nearby Jimalalud town, grade-six student Anafe Estrabella was killed when the wall of the school chapel where she was in collapsed, according to Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz.

Cruz said Estrabella was declared dead on arrival at a nearby hospital.

The institute issued tsunami alert level 2 immediately after the quake but lifted the warning more than 3 hours later.

One department store in San Carlos City in Negros Occidental province suffered broken glass windows and cracks, while many people in the affected areas rushed out of buildings in panic.

Government offices and school classes have been suspended in Iloilo province.