Philippines hit by second quake as rescuers race to find survivors trapped by debris

Worst of the damage was in the province of Pampanga, where 16 people died and more than 100 others were injured by falling rubble

Clark airport was closed on Tuesday because of damage caused by the quake and officials said it would not open until Wednesday evening at the earliest

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Rescuers gesture to clear the way following the discovery of a survivor in a collapsed commercial building in Porac, Pampanga province. Photo: AP

Published: 9:35am, 23 Apr 2019Updated: 11:35pm, 23 Apr 2019

Philippine rescuers raced on Tuesday to reach some two dozen people feared buried under a building near Manila that collapsed a day earlier in a deadly earthquake, as a powerful second tremor hit the country.

The US Geological Survey put the second quake – on the central island of Samar – at 6.4 magnitude, stronger than the one that wrought significant damage Monday near the capital in the north.

The latest quake sent terrified locals fleeing into the streets, with images on social media showing cracked roads, crumbling church walls and shattered glass.

“No one started crying, but of course some panicked because it was really strong,” said Rey Estrobo, a supervisor at a hotel in Borongan town, near the epicentre.

At the same time, the toll in Monday’s quake rose to 16, with most of the fatalities in the worst-hit northern province of Pampanga, national disaster officials said.

Pampanga’s Clark international airport was closed on Tuesday because of damage caused by the quake. Officials said it would not reopen until Wednesday evening.