Philippines quake deaths now 161

Manila – The number of people killed in the deadly earthquake in central Philippines last Tuesday rose to 161, the country’s disaster relief agency said Thursday.

As of 5 p.m. Thursday, 161 people were confirmed dead, while the number of missing stood at 21, Xinhua cited the National Disaster Risk and Relief Management Council (NDRRMC) as saying.

Operations officer and spokesman of the NDRRMC Rey Balido said 375 people were wounded.

Around 3.4 million people in Cebu, Bohol and Siquijor provinces have been affected 19,309 houses destroyed.

The magnitude-7.2 quake jolted Bohol and parts of the Visayas and Mindanao regions at 8.12 a.m. Tuesday with the epicentre at a depth of 33 km.