Cebu, October 1 — At least 69 people were killed and over 150 injured after a 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck off the northeast coast of Cebu province in the central Philippines around 10 p.m. local time on Tuesday, causing widespread destruction including collapsed buildings, cracked roads and bridges. Cebu’s provincial government declared a state of calamity, mobilizing rescuers and military aid amid ongoing aftershocks, according to details received by The Chenab Times.
The epicenter, about 19 kilometers northeast of Bogo City—a coastal town of 90,000 residents—was at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers, amplifying the damage. Of the deaths, 30 occurred in Bogo, 22 in San Remigio, 10 in Medellin, five in Tabogon and one each in Sogod and Tabuelan, as reported by the Office of Civil Defense. Hundreds of aftershocks, including a 4.7 magnitude event at 3:49 p.m. local time on Wednesday, have forced residents to sleep outdoors, with power outages and disrupted communications complicating relief efforts.
Rescuers sifted through rubble at sites like the Archdiocesan Shrine of Santa Rosa de Lima, where the roof collapsed, and a 100-year-old church in Bantayan whose bell tower fell. Videos captured chaotic scenes: a gala in Cebu City interrupted as attendees fled a shaking stage; people clinging together in streets; and patients treated outside Bogo City Hospital amid fears of structural failure. Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma urged devotees to avoid churches pending assessments.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology attributed the quake to a fault inactive for 400 years, issuing brief tsunami advisories for coastal areas in Cebu, Leyte and Biliran due to minor sea-level changes, though no major waves materialized. Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla stated police and fire services were fully mobilized for search-and-rescue and to prevent looting, with 300,000 food packs distributed by the Department of Social Welfare.
Vice President Sara Duterte, who garnered strong support in Cebu, extended condolences and pledged assistance, saying, “We extend our prayers for the peace of the departed, the recovery of the injured, and the speedy recovery of the communities affected.” The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office advised travelers in affected areas to follow local guidance and avoid damaged structures.
The disaster follows recent back-to-back typhoons—Super Typhoon Ragasa and Typhoon Bualoi—that killed over a dozen and an unusually wet monsoon causing floods and protests over inadequate infrastructure. Cebu resident Jayford Maranga described the quake: “Bang! It was as if the Earth stopped spinning,” while Agnes Merza in Bantayan said tiles cracked and neighbors fled homes.
The Philippines, on the Pacific Ring of Fire, has endured major quakes like the 2013 Bohol event (magnitude 7.2, over 200 dead) and the 1976 Moro Gulf tremor (magnitude 8.0, at least 5,000 dead). Officials warned the toll could rise as access improves to remote areas.
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Global Affairs Desk at The Chenab Times covers international developments, global diplomacy, and foreign policy issues through fact-based reporting, explainers, and analytical pieces. The desk focuses on major geopolitical events, diplomatic engagements, and international trends, with an emphasis on verified information, multiple perspectives, and contextual understanding of global affairs.
