(UPI) -- At least 85 people were killed after a magnitude 7.2 earthquake hit the central Philippines Tuesday at around 8:12 a.m.
Most of the deaths reportedly occurred in the island of Bohol, which is close to the epicenter of the quake. Sixty nine fatalities have been confirmed in the area.
At least 15 other people died in Cebu, the National Disaster Agency reported. Some of them where were crushed as people rushed out of homes, building and hospitals as the aftershocks of the quake continued.
Rescue teams are still assessing damage at the scenes the worst of which is Bohol where the roads are blocked and the power was cut.
Authorities say the death toll could still rise. Many lives, however, were saved by the fact that offices and schools were closed for a national holiday.
There have been no reports of any tourists being killed by the catastrophe.
