A devastating earthquake ripped through the central Philippines on Tuesday night, leaving a trail of destruction. At least 20 people lost their lives, and over three dozen sustained injuries, as buildings crumbled under the powerful tremors, a government spokeswoman confirmed.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology detailed the seismic event, reporting a powerful magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck Cebu province, home to 3.2 million residents, shortly before 10 p.m. local time. The initial shock was followed by a series of unsettling aftershocks.
Ainjeliz de la Torre-Orong, a spokesperson for Cebu, provided an update via email, confirming 20 fatalities and at least 37 injuries. The earthquake caused extensive damage, including the collapse of four buildings and significant structural harm to three government facilities. Additionally, six bridges and one major road were rendered impassable.
In response to the crisis, Cebu’s Governor, Pam Baricuatro, swiftly ordered the deployment of essential relief supplies, such as water and medicine, to affected communities. Rescue teams and heavy equipment were also dispatched to clear vital roads and assist in ongoing search and rescue efforts.
Neighboring South Cotabato province has pledged its support, with officials planning to send their own relief supplies and a medical team to aid Cebu in its recovery.
Tragically, five of the confirmed deaths occurred in the town of San Remigio, as reported by Captain Jan Ace Elcid Layug, who is in charge of the local police. This information was shared with a Filipino news outlet.
Captain Layug further explained that four of the victims in San Remigio were engaged in a basketball game at a sports complex when it tragically collapsed. Among them, one was a member of the Bureau of Fire Protection, and three others served with the Philippine Coast Guard. The fifth fatality in San Remigio was a child, discovered trapped beneath rubble elsewhere.
Local officials in San Remigio announced via Facebook their intention to declare a ‘state of calamity,’ citing the extensive damage and severe disruption to residents’ lives. This declaration is crucial for mobilizing necessary resources to support those impacted by the earthquake.
Amidst the chaos, dedicated medical workers were seen providing care to a resident in Cebu province, highlighting the immediate humanitarian response following the powerful tremor.
To facilitate comprehensive damage assessments, authorities in Cebu ordered the closure of all schools and government buildings for Wednesday.
The Archdiocese of Cebu issued a solemn warning, advising that churches across the province had been ‘gravely affected’ and should remain closed for Masses until thorough inspections could be completed. Visual evidence, including photos shared on the Facebook page of the Archdiocesan Shrine of Santa Rosa de Lima, depicted significant damage, with sections of the historic stone structure reduced to rubble.
Beyond public infrastructure, local news outlets also circulated images showcasing the destruction inflicted upon fast-food establishments and residential apartment buildings.
Initially, authorities issued a cautionary alert regarding a ‘minor sea-level disturbance’ following the earthquake, urging coastal residents to evacuate. However, this warning was later rescinded once the immediate danger subsided.
The Philippines, an archipelago of over 7,000 islands, is notoriously prone to earthquakes, given its location on the Pacific’s active ‘Ring of Fire,’ where tectonic plates frequently collide. This recent event follows a magnitude 6.7 earthquake in November 2023, which devastated the southern Philippines, resulting in at least seven deaths and hundreds of injuries.
Prior to that, a magnitude 7 earthquake in July 2023 claimed at least four lives in the northern part of the country. The southern Philippines also experienced a series of deadly earthquakes in 2019, with the most powerful being a magnitude 6.9 tremor that resulted in at least two fatalities.