At least 60 killed in earthquake in the Philippines

(Patria) - At least 60 people have been killed in a powerful 6.9 magnitude earthquake in the central Philippines and more than 140 people have been injured, with fears the death toll could rise as rescuers make their way through collapsed buildings this morning.

A sports complex collapsed in northern Cebu during a basketball game. Several people were killed and injured.

According to reports from police captain Jan Ace Elcid Layug, four of the victims were members of the team responding to the collapse of the complex. One of the victims is a member of the Bureau of Fire Protection, and three are members of the Philippine Coast Guard.

The fifth victim is a child who was trapped in the rubble at another location.

The epicenter of the earthquake, which struck the Philippines on Tuesday at 3:59 PM Central European Time at a depth of ten kilometers, was initially in the northern region of Cebu, according to data from the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

The USGS later revised the magnitude from 7.0 on the Richter scale to 6.9.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) issued a tsunami warning, which was later lifted.

The Church of St. Peter and Paul on Bantayan Island reportedly collapsed during the earthquake.

A building of a fast-food restaurant chain also partially collapsed in Bogo in the Cebu region.

School classes were suspended on Wednesday in several parts of Cebu, including Lapu-Lapu, Mandaue, Talisay, Minglanilla, Consolacion, and Liloan.

Firefighters in Mandaue localized an ammonia leak at a beverage factory after the quake, while emergency services are on standby for possible evacuation of residents.

Casualties have been reported in the municipality of San Remigio in Cebu, which declared a state of calamity after extensive damage in the area.