On Wednesday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council of the Philippines stated that the 6.9 magnitude earthquake that struck Cebu Province in central Philippines on Tuesday evening has already claimed the lives of at least 69 people, with over 150 individuals injured. The government is mobilizing various agencies to search for survivors and restore power and water supply. As rescue efforts progress, the number of casualties is expected to increase further.
According to media reports, the earthquake occurred at 9:59 p.m. local time on Tuesday, with the epicenter located in the sea between Cebu Island and Leyte Island, near Bogo City in Cebu Province, at a depth of 10 kilometers. Authorities anticipate more aftershocks in the future and briefly issued a tsunami warning, urging people to stay away from the shores. The warning was lifted after confirming that there were no abnormal sea waves.
Following the earthquake, noticeable tremors were also felt in Leyte Province, Eastern Samar Province, Northern Samar Province, and other areas near Cebu Province. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology recorded hundreds of aftershocks near the epicenter within about 12 hours after the main quake.
Videos circulating on social media filmed in Cebu Province showed a local mall catching fire as a result of the earthquake, with severe damage to a McDonald’s restaurant. In another video clip, during the earthquake, several beauty pageant contestants hurriedly evacuated from the stage. The Philippine Red Cross revealed that several schools in Cebu Province experienced cracks in building walls and temporary power outages.
According to the Cebu Province Information Office, the earthquake also caused damage to at least two bridges in Medellin City, Cebu Province, hindering traffic on some roads. Tabogon town in the province experienced road cracks and bridge damage, leading to transportation disruptions. The provincial government of Cebu has declared a state of calamity province-wide.