Hospital catches fire in earthquake

Hospital catches fire in earthquake

MANILA (Reuter): An earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale hit the southern Philippine island of Mindanao yesterday, triggering a fire that damaged a hospital building but leaving no casualties, officials said.

The third floor of the Capital College General Hospital in Cagayan de Oro City, about 750 kilometers south of Manila, was destroyed in the fire caused by an electrical short-circuit during the earthquake, fire investigator Maximo Carreon said.

Rescue workers evacuated 29 patients from the floor, he said.

Officials in Cagayan de Oro said the hospital fire was put out within an hour.