Philippines, July 27- A massive earthquake of magnitude 7.1 richter scale strikes Northern Philippines, jolts felt strongly within the capital city, Manila on Wednesday. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the powerful earthquake struck the Philippine island of Luzon at 8:43 am local time (8:43 p.m. ET)

The epicentre was about 13 kilometres, South East of Dolores in Abra province with a depth of 10 kilometres leading to great loss of life and property. Initially, there have been no reports of damage or injuries. However it was later reported that at least 64 people were injured and five people were killed, two in Benguet province, one in Abra province, and two others in Kalinga and Cagayan Valley respectively. Among the deceased was a man who was killed by cement slabs falling upon him in his house in Abra, another, a construction worker who was also killed by debris of the buildings who succumbed in the strawberry-growing mountain town of La Trinidad in Benguet province, where most of the roads were blocked due to landslides and boulders.

Image representing the epicenter of the Philippines' earthquake 

Around 173 buildings were damaged, among which was a hospital in Abra province. The building was partially collapsed and the people inside the hospital were immediately evacuated hence there was no casualties reported. Abra’s vice governor, Joy Bernos, shares photos of the same on her Facebook account.

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