Rescuers in the Philippines are searching for survivors by digging debris with their bare hands after a 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck in the central Philippines which killed dozens of people.
According to the Philippines military, the current death toll has risen to 48 and 92 people are missing.
The earthquake collapsed bridges and damaged roads near Negros Island. Rescuers in search of missing people had to climb mountains to reach remote villages.
Homes are buried under soils and rock in Guihulngan City, which had also received heavy rains days before the quake, disaster officials said.
The U.S. embassy in Manila released a statement saying: The embassy offers its condolences to all those affected by the recent earthquake near Dumaguete, and the following aftershocks.
Local and national authorities, working with civic organizations, are making significant efforts to assist victims of this tragic natural disaster. We applaud their dedication and expertise, the statement said.
Residents drive past cracks in a road caused by an earthquake in Negros Oriental, central Philippines February 6, 2012. The magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck the central Philippine island of Negros on Monday, triggering landslides that toppled houses and killing at least 12 people, including two children, officials said.ReutersResident carry what was left of their belongings after their house collapsed from an earthquake in Negros Oriental, central Philippines February 6, 2012. The magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck the central Philippine island of Negros on Monday, triggering landslides that toppled houses and killing at least 12 people, including two children, officials said.ReutersResidents walk along a damaged road caused by an earthquake in Guihulngan, Negros Oriental in central Philippines February 7, 2012. Philippine rescuers searched on Tuesday for 29 residents of a mountainside community feared dead after a landslide triggered by an earthquake engulfed their homes. A magnitude 6.7 quake struck near Tayasan town in the central Philippine island of Negros on Monday. Fifteen people are known to have been killed while several remote towns have been cut off because of damage to roads and bridges.ReutersSoldiers ride their motorcycles past a road destroyed by an earthquake in La Libertad, Negros Oriental in central Philippines February 7, 2012. Philippine rescuers searched on Tuesday for 29 residents of a mountainside community feared dead after a landslide triggered by an earthquake engulfed their homes. A magnitude 6.7 quake struck near Tayasan town in the central Philippine island of Negros on Monday. Fifteen people are known to have been killed while several remote towns have been cut off because of damage to roads and bridges.ReutersResidents and soldiers gather at the site of a landslide caused by an earthquake in La Libertad, Negros Oriental in central Philippines February 7, 2012. Philippine rescuers searched on Tuesday for 29 residents of a mountainside community feared dead after a landslide triggered by an earthquake engulfed their homes. A magnitude 6.7 quake struck near Tayasan town in the central Philippine island of Negros on Monday. Fifteen people are known to have been killed while several remote towns have been cut off because of damage to roads and bridges.ReutersA man stands on top of the houses destroyed by a landslide caused by an earthquake in La Libertad, Negros Oriental in central Philippines February 7, 2012. Philippine rescuers searched on Tuesday for 29 residents of a mountainside community feared dead after a landslide triggered by an earthquake engulfed their homes. A magnitude 6.7 quake struck near Tayasan town in the central Philippine island of Negros on Monday. Fifteen people are known to have been killed while several remote towns have been cut off because of damage to roads and bridges.Reuters
