Quake injures six on in Philippines

Quake injures six on in Philippines

MANILA (AP): A strong earthquake injured at least six people,
damaged homes, toppled power lines and caused landslides on one
of the Philippines' northernmost islands, officials said on
Monday.

The earthquake, with a magnitude of 6.4, rocked Batanes island
at midday on Sunday and was centered near Basco, the capital of
Batanes province, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and
Seismology said.

A church bell tower in Basco collapsed and many old houses,
mostly made of stone or concrete, also suffered major damage.

Boulders and rocks rolled down hills and blocked a road
linking Basco to southern towns, the institute said.

Batanes is about 690 kilometers north of Manila.