The death toll from a powerful earthquake in the central Philippines has risen to nearly 69, with hospitals in Cebu overwhelmed by the influx of injured patients. The magnitude 6.9 quake struck at 9:59 pm local time (1359 GMT) Tuesday near Bogo, a city of 90,000 on the northern tip of Cebu Island, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS).
Rescue workers were seen carrying dozens of body bags as hospitals struggled to accommodate victims. Injured children and adults received treatment on makeshift beds set up under tents outside Cebu Provincial Hospital in Bogo, amid fears of further aftershocks.
Up to 60 fatalities have been confirmed so far, with numbers expected to rise, said Rafaelito Alejandro, deputy administrator of the Office of Civil Defence. “We are receiving additional numbers of reported casualties, so this situation is very fluid,” he told reporters in Manila.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported 147 injuries across the central islands, with 22 buildings damaged. Some patients had to be transferred to hospitals in Cebu City, approximately 100 kilometers (60 miles) south, due to overcrowding at the Bogo facility, rescuers said.
Eyewitness Accounts and Structural Damage
Dramatic footage circulated on social media showed a historic Catholic church belfry collapsing on Bantayan Island, though no injuries were reported. Residents also described bridges and commercial buildings swaying violently.
Jayford Maranga, 21, an online shoe merchant in Cebu City, recalled hiding under a restaurant table as the mall’s metal ceiling began to collapse. “It was as if the Earth stopped spinning. And then the mall started shaking,” he said, with his friend sustaining minor injuries.
The Cebu provincial government has appealed for medical volunteers, warning that people may still be trapped under collapsed structures. Overnight rescue efforts were hampered by darkness and continuous aftershocks, with the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology reporting 379 aftershocks across the region.
Infrastructure and Utilities Impacted
The quake caused temporary power outages across Cebu and nearby islands due to tripped lines, though power was restored shortly after midnight, according to the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines. Several buildings, including a commercial structure and a school in Bantayan, as well as a fast-food restaurant in Bogo, were severely damaged. Roads in affected towns, such as Tabogon, suffered cracks, complicating rescue operations.
The USGS initially reported the earthquake as magnitude 7.0 but later revised it to 6.9. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center confirmed there is no tsunami threat.
Background: Seismic Activity in the Philippines
The Philippines lies on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” making it prone to frequent earthquakes. While most tremors are minor, destructive earthquakes can strike unpredictably, with no current technology capable of precise forecasting.
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