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Residents view the ruins of the historic Holy Cross Parish Church in Maribojoc on the central Philippine island of Bohol on Friday, October 18. The death toll has risen above 180 after a magnitude-7.1 earthquake on October 15. (AP Photo)

Residents view the ruins of the historic Holy Cross Parish Church in Maribojoc on the central Philippine island of Bohol on Friday, October 18. The death toll has risen above 180 after a magnitude-7.1 earthquake on October 15. (AP Photo)

A magnitude-7.1 earthquake struck the central Philippines on Tuesday, leaving at least 99 people dead and 276 more injured, and rattling many who were celebrating a religious holiday.

The quake, which struck early in the morning, crumbled a number of buildings and sent panicked people streaming into the streets, witnesses said.

The bulk of the casualties — 90 deaths and 166 injuries — came in Bohol province. At least nine were killed in Cebu province and one died in the province of Siquijor, the Philippines News Agency reported, citing the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

CMAT assessment photo of devastation in Sichuan, China.

CMAT assessment photo of devastation in Sichuan, China.

Thursday May 22, 2008 – TORONTO/ VANCOUVER: Canadian Medical Assessment Team (CMAT) Response Coordinators established contact early yesterday morning by satellite phone with the CMAT assessment team in earthquake-affected Sichuan, China. The assessment team advised that the Chinese government, military and local Red Cross have done a commendable job in the rescue and recovery effort. At present, there are 100,000+ Chinese Military and over 1000 medical staff in the region, and most seriously injured citizens have already been evacuated to larger centres.

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CMAT Assessment team shortly after arriving in China. L-R: Dr. Haibo Xu, Dr. Charles Jiang, Paramedic Chris Kaley, Paramedic Dave Deines, Dr. Dave Ratcliffe.

CMAT Assessment team shortly before departing for China. L-R: Dr. Haibo Xu, Dr. Charles Jiang, Paramedic Chris Kaley, Paramedic Dave Deines, Dr. Dave Ratcliffe.

May 18, 2008 – National news coverage of CMAT teams deploying to China.

CBC News: Canadian doctors head to China quake zone

CityTV News – CMAT team departing

CTV News – Toronto’s Chinese community reacts to earthquake.

CTV News – Canadian doctors put skills to use in China

Friday May 16, 2008 – TORONTO/ VANCOUVER: Canadian Medical Assistance Teams will hold a news conference on Saturday May 17, 2008 at 9:30am to announce the departure of the first of several medical teams headed to aid in the relief effort of earthquake ravaged Sichuan, China.

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