A powerful earthquake struck the central Philippines on Tuesday night, causing widespread destruction and claiming the lives of at least 26 people, with more than 140 injured, according to officials.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology reported that the 6.9-magnitude tremor violently shook Cebu province, an area home to 3.2 million residents, just before 10 p.m. local time. The initial shock was followed by numerous aftershocks.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, the country’s primary disaster agency, confirmed 26 deaths and at least 147 injuries. The earthquake also damaged at least 22 infrastructure sites, rendering three bridges and one road impassable.
Diego A. Mariano, a spokesperson for the Philippines’ Civil Defense, stated that authorities are working urgently to restore communication systems. The most significant damage appears concentrated in densely populated urban areas.
An interactive map of the affected region shows shake intensity zones, with areas experiencing “light” to “severe” shaking. All times on the map refer to Philippine time. Data provided by U.S.G.S. Analysis by William B. Davis and John Keefe.
In Cebu, Governor Pam Baricuatro has ordered the immediate deployment of essential relief supplies, including potable water and medicine, to affected communities. Teams have also been dispatched with equipment to clear roadways and assist in ongoing rescue efforts, according to Ainjeliz de la Torre-Orong, a spokeswoman for Cebu.
Officials from the neighboring province of South Cotabato have also pledged to send relief aid and a medical team to support Cebu.
The majority of casualties were reported in Bogo District, Cebu. Captain Jan Ace Elcid Layug, officer in charge of the San Remigio police, confirmed five deaths in the town of San Remigio. Four victims were playing basketball when a sports complex collapsed, and one child was tragically trapped in rubble elsewhere. Among the dead were also a member of the Bureau of Fire Protection and members of the Philippine Coast Guard.
San Remigio officials announced plans to declare a “state of calamity” to facilitate the mobilization of resources for residents impacted by the earthquake, citing widespread damage and disruption.
Relief operations are currently hampered by continuous heavy rainfall and extensive damage to infrastructure. Alphonsine Corominas-Gonzales, the vice mayor of San Remigio, stated in a local radio interview that several bridges remain impassable, preventing rescue teams from reaching isolated communities. She highlighted critical shortages of water, food, and adequate shelter, alongside persistent power outages across many areas.
Ms. Corominas-Gonzales has issued an urgent plea for tents, safe drinking water, and easy-to-prepare food items.
To facilitate comprehensive damage assessments, authorities in Cebu have ordered the closure of all schools and government buildings for Wednesday.
The Archdiocese of Cebu has advised that all churches, many of which sustained significant damage, should remain closed for Masses until thorough inspections are completed. Photographs shared on social media by the Archdiocesan Shrine of Santa Rosa de Lima in Cebu revealed parts of its ancient stone structure reduced to rubble.
Local media also published images of damaged fast-food restaurants and residential buildings.
Although a warning for a “minor sea-level disturbance” was initially issued by authorities, urging residents to move away from coastal areas, it was later rescinded as the immediate danger passed.
Earthquakes are a frequent occurrence in the Philippines, an archipelago comprising over 7,000 islands, situated within the seismically active “Ring of Fire” in the Pacific Ocean. This region is characterized by intense tectonic plate movement. Prior significant seismic events include a magnitude 6.7 earthquake in November 2023 that struck the southern Philippines, resulting in at least seven deaths and hundreds of injuries.
In July 2023, a magnitude 7.0 quake in the northern Philippines killed at least four people. The southern Philippines experienced several devastating earthquakes in 2019, including a 6.9-magnitude tremor that caused at least two fatalities.
Looking further back, October 2013 saw Cebu and the nearby island of Bohol hit by a magnitude 7.2 earthquake, which claimed the lives of at least 220 individuals and destroyed centuries-old historical structures, including churches.
Additional reporting contributed by Aie Balagtas See and Sui-Lee Wee.