A powerful earthquake has left dozens dead in parts of the central Philippines. The 6.9-magnitude quake struck around 10 p.m. local time on Tuesday night, sending shockwaves across Cebu Province and sparking panic.
The quake comes just days after the Philippines was battered by a tropical storm that left 27 people dead, mostly due to drownings and falling trees.
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CCTV footage captured buildings shaking, glass shattering and people running for cover in restaurants and homes.
Civil Defense officials at the national and local levels say at least 60 people are dead. Some of the victims include people who were crushed when a sports complex collapsed during a basketball game. Among those victims were three members of the Philippine Coast Guard and one firefighter, according to CNN.
At least 150 people were injured as a result of the quake.
Civil Defense official Raffy Alejandro stated that the hospital in Bogo, a coastal city of approximately 90,000 people, has been “overwhelmed.”
The aftermath
Aftermath images show collapsed buildings, cracked churches, body bags and even a shopping mall engulfed in flames.
The quake cut power, damaged infrastructure and triggered more than 800 aftershocks.
Rescue crews, with assistance from sniffer dogs and search teams, are digging through rubble as officials warn that the death toll could rise.
Officials are also using heavy machinery to assist in search efforts, specifically in a mountain village hit by a landslide in the aftermath of the quake.
Philippine Red Cross Chairman Richard Gordon spoke with CNN regarding the quake. He called it a sleeper quake, saying, “it crept up on us.”
“Some churches partially collapsed, and some schools had to be evacuated,” Gordon added.
Following the quake, Cebu Gov. Pam Baricuatro posted to social media, urging residents to remain calm. She said the presidential office confirmed it was sending aid to Cebu.
“Know that the provincial government is doing its best. Help is coming,” Baricuatro said in a video on social media.
Condolences from other countries
The U.S., Japan, Australia and the European Union all expressed condolences following the quake.
U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines, MaryKay Carlson, shared a post on X saying, “The Embassy community offers our deepest condolences to those affected by the earthquake in Cebu.”
Carlson said the embassy community stands ready to support the government’s response as friends, partners and allies.
Natural disasters in the Philippines
Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are common in the Philippines due to its location on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” an arc of seismic faults around the ocean. It hosts more than half of the world’s volcanoes.
In 2022, a 7.0-magnitude earthquake shook northern Luzon, the country’s most populous island, according to CNN. That quake killed at least five people and injured over 100. Luzon also saw a 6.1-magnitude earthquake in 2019, killing at least 11.
