CEBU, Philippines — A devastating 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck the central Philippines late Tuesday night, leaving at least 69 people dead and dozens more feared trapped under collapsed homes and buildings. The tremor, one of the strongest to hit the region in over a decade, jolted communities in Cebu province just as families were settling in for the night.
Authorities confirmed that the epicenter was located about 19 kilometers northeast of Bogo City at a shallow depth of just 5 kilometers, amplifying the destructive force of the quake. Bogo City, home to roughly 90,000 residents, suffered the heaviest toll, accounting for nearly half of the reported fatalities. Additional deaths were recorded in the nearby towns of Medellin and San Remigio, where victims included first responders and children.
Emergency teams equipped with backhoes, sniffer dogs, and limited resources are racing against time to rescue those still trapped under debris. “We’re still in the golden hour of our search and rescue,” said Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV, deputy administrator of the Office of Civil Defense. “There are still many reports of people who were pinned or hit by debris.”
Rescue operations are being hampered by damaged roads, collapsed bridges, and intermittent rain, which has also increased the risk of landslides. In mountain villages near Bogo, workers struggled to reach shanties buried by boulders and mud. Survivors have been transported to local hospitals, but officials warn the casualty numbers are likely to rise.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology issued a tsunami warning immediately after the quake, advising coastal residents in Cebu, Leyte, and Biliran provinces to evacuate. The warning, which predicted waves of up to one meter, was lifted after three hours when no abnormal sea activity was reported.
Thousands of residents, fearful of aftershocks — more than 600 have been recorded — refused to return home and spent the night in open fields and parks despite rain. This disaster comes just days after a tropical storm battered the same region, killing at least 27 people and leaving communities already vulnerable.
International condolences have poured in. The United States, Japan, Australia, and the European Union all expressed sympathy and pledged support. “We stand ready to support the Philippine government’s response as friends, partners, allies,” said U.S. Ambassador MaryKay Carlson.
Schools and government offices in the affected areas have been closed while engineers assess building safety. Officials are also conducting rapid damage assessments to determine whether international assistance will be formally requested.
“This was really traumatic to people. They’ve been lashed by a storm then jolted by an earthquake,” said Teresito Bacolcol, director of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. “I don’t want to experience what they’ve gone through.”
The Philippines, located along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” is among the world’s most disaster-prone nations, regularly facing earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and up to 20 typhoons annually.