A major earthquake has struck in the Philippines under an island that is popular with tourists.

Bohol Island and nearby Cebu both were heavily shaken resulting in destruction of buildings and markets. The governor of Bohol told the BBC that a church and city hall building were heavily damaged by the quake.

At least six people are dead according to local officials. Dozens more have been taken to area hospitals.

“Communication lines are quite difficult here,” Neil Sanchez of the Cebu disaster management office told ABS-CBN news agency. “Even the disaster risk reduction management office has been damaged. We had to move elsewhere.”

The Philippines are located on the Pacific Ring of Fire of seismic and volcanic activity.