Philippines concludes search for missing in quake-stricken areas

Reuters

The Philippines says it has completed its search and rescue operations following on powerful 6.9-magnitude earthquake, killing 73 and injuring more than 200.

The decision was made as all missing persons had been accounted for and there were no further signs of trapped individuals, according to authorities.

Efforts will now shift toward the distribution of relief goods and post-disaster reconstruction.

Access to the most areas remains severely limited, with large vehicles unable to navigate the damaged roads, leaving motorcycles as the primary means of transport.

The quake, which hit the northern part of Cebu province on Tuesday, struck at a depth of 5 km, approximately 19 km northeast of Bogo City.

The Philippines sits along the Pacific 'Ring of Fire,' a region prone to earthquakes and volcanic activity.

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