Manila:A 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of the central Philippines on Monday, killing at least seven people and causing widespread panic in cities where buildings shook violently.
The powerful quake hit in a narrow strait between the heavily populated island provinces of Negros and Cebu, leaving fissures on roads, damaging bridges, and shutting down the power supply, officials said. In Cebu city, a popular tourist destination, hotel guests scrambled to higher floors as unfounded rumours of a huge tsunami heading to the metropolis of 2.3 million spread on mobile phone text messages. (PTI)
