Source: Youtube/ABSCBN

At least 151 people have died from a powerful earthquake in the Philippines with a magnitude of 7.2. The quake struck central Philippines on Oct 15 on the island of Bohol which destroyed centuries-old churches, triggered landslides and damaged homes, especially those located along the coastal highways.

Philippine authorities confirmed 93 deaths on the night of Oct 15 as they continuously assessed the damage the earthquake has caused. According to the civil defence chief of Bohol, Minda Morante, authorities expect the number of deaths to rise since search and rescue personnel are still looking for casualties or survivors in other areas.

Bohol, home of the Philippines' Chocolate Hills, and its neighbouring island Cebu, sustained the most damage with popular tourist attractions now totally or partially destroyed by the strong earthquake.

Bohol will never be the same again without these churches :( #PrayForVisayas #earthquakePH (c) didyouknow pic.twitter.com/wPm0e6774c"

— Blake Attakai (@patroclus26) October 15, 2013


Authorities said most of the confirmed deaths were in Bohol with 15 deaths were reported in Cebu. Bohol police chief Senior Superintendent Dennis Agustin said the coastal town of Loon was one of the most affected with 18 people killed by landslides that buried their homes.

The town of Loon is only 20 km away from the earthquake's epicenter. Cebu is 25 km away from the other side.

Source: Youtube/Inquirer

Deadliest earthquakes in Asia since 2010

In comparison to the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that hit the Philippines on Oct 15, 2013, below is a list of the deadliest earthquakes that struck Asia since 2010, compiled by Agence France-Presse:

Year 2010

Turkey - March 8. A magnitude 6 earthquake killed 42 people in Elazig province

China - April 14. A 6.9 magnitude quake left 3,000 people dead in China's Yushu county, Quinghai province

Indonesia - Oct 25. A tsunami triggered by a 7.7 magnitude earthquake killed 400 people. The quake's epicentre was on a remote island chain off the coast of Western Sumatra.

Year 2011

Japan - March 11. Almost 18,900 people died from a tsunami caused by a magnitude 9 underwater earthquake which also triggered a nuclear crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi atomic plant.

Myanmar - March 24. A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck near the border of Laos and Thailand that killed 74 people.

India-Nepal - Sept. 18. Northeastern India was hit by a 6.9 magnitude quake that also rocked Nepal, leaving 110 dead.

Turkey - Oct 23. A 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck eastern Turkey that killed 600 and injured 4,150 people.

Year 2012

Philippines - Feb. 6. The islands of Negros and Cebu were hit by a 6.7 magnitude earthquake that caused landslides and killed 52 people.

Iran - Aug 11. Two earthquakes with a magnitude of 6.3 and 6.4 left 306 people dead and more than 3,000 injured near Tabriz.

China - Sept 7. A series of earthquakes in southwest China killed 81 people along the border of Guizhou and Yunnan provinces.

Myanmar - Nov 11. A magnitude 6.8 quake left 38 people dead.

Year 2013

Iran/Pakistan - Apr 16. A 7.8 magnitude quake struck Iran which left 1 dead and 40 more killed in Baluchistan, Pakistan.

China - Apr 20. A 6.6 magnitude earthquake killed 196 people and over 13,000 injured when it struck China's Sichuan Province.

China - July 22. At least 95 people died from the twin earthquakes of magnitude 5.9 and 5.6 in the Gansu province of China.

Pakistan - Sept 24. A 7.7 magnitude quake left 376 people dead in Baluchistan province.

Source: Youtube/RTglobalnews