DHAKA: Rescue workers were forced on Thursday onto boats and helicopters to help thousands of isolated survivors of a powerful earthquake in the Philippines, as the death toll climbed to 158.

Road access to the worst-hit towns on the central island of Bohol remained cut, two days after the 7.1-magnitude quake destroyed buildings and triggered landslides that engulfed homes, regional civil defence chief Minda Morante said.

‘I hope the people will understand. While we want to bring aid to them, our main adversary is accessibility,’ Morante told media.

‘We acknowledge that there are still gaps in the emergency response. We cannot address the many needs all at the same time.’

BDST: 1550 HRS, OCT 17, 2013
RoR/GCP