1 killed, 1 hurt in magnitude 6.5 Leyte quake –mayor

One person was killed while another one was hurt following the magnitude 6.5 earthquake that struck the island of Leyte on Thursday afternoon, a local government official said.

"Ngayon nagre-rescue na sila, may na-retrieve na kami na isang dead saka isang wounded. I don't know the age pero 'yung namatay is lalaki, tapos 'yung wounded is babae," said Kananga, Leyte Mayor Rowena Codilla in a radio dzBB interview.

"Actually wala pa talaga akong exact na count, naghihintay din kasi kami ng rescue from the province kasi kailangan namin ng mga equipment," she added.

Codilla also said a commercial building, which has a grocery, hardware and boutique, collapsed as a result of the earthquake.

The quake struck 8 kilometers southwest of the town of Jaro at a depth of 2 kilometers beneath the island. It was felt at Intensity V in Tacloban City and Palo, Leyte, and even as far as Cebu City. —Anna Felicia Bajo/KBK, GMA News