President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of the Philippines visited the site of a deadly earthquake this week, promising urgent help while acknowledging the significant challenges in providing food, water, and electricity to the displaced population.
The 6.9-magnitude earthquake, which struck the central Philippines late on Tuesday, tragically claimed the lives of at least 72 people and left nearly 300 injured, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
Bogo City, located at the northern tip of Cebu Province, accounted for nearly half of the fatalities. President Marcos traveled to this area with other officials, where over 170,000 people were displaced. The temblor severely damaged at least 87 buildings, roads, bridges, and nearly 600 homes.
An image depicts the rubble from a largely collapsed stone church in Daanbantayan, Philippines, on Thursday, showcasing the devastating impact of the earthquake. (Photo by Jes Aznar for The New York Times)
Another photo shows residents in Binabag Village, Bogo City, receiving much-needed relief aid, highlighting the immediate humanitarian response. (Photo by Jes Aznar for The New York Times)
A video shows President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. inspecting the widespread damage in Bogo City on Thursday, underscoring the gravity of the situation.
Officials expressed optimism that most of the missing individuals had been accounted for, as rescue teams diligently continued their search efforts across the damaged areas, a spokesman for the office of civil defense confirmed.
However, Mr. Marcos noted that the extensive damage to the region’s infrastructure posed considerable challenges for survivors. Many essential buildings, including a local hospital, suffered severe damage, leaving very few safe places for displaced people to find shelter.
“That is why we are having a slightly difficult time,” President Marcos conveyed to residents during his tour, based on transcripts provided by his office. “We do not have a place to put our displaced families.”
As a crucial temporary measure, the government plans to expedite the delivery of tents to the affected area, similar to those deployed during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We will then establish appropriate facilities within these tent cities,” he assured. “We will ensure there is a consistent supply of food, water, electricity, and if necessary, generator sets. Whatever you require, we are committed to providing it.”
President Marcos also stated that power would be restored to the city by the end of Thursday, and patients evacuated from the hospital would soon be able to return indoors once structural engineers confirm the buildings are safe.
A poignant image shows a family mourning beside a white coffin, their house having crumbled during the earthquake, tragically killing one of their children. (Photo by Jes Aznar for The New York Times)
Another somber photograph captures villagers in Bogo City on Thursday, grieving the loss of 16 people, predominantly children, who perished in the earthquake. (Photo by Jes Aznar for The New York Times)
The Philippines is particularly vulnerable to natural disasters, situated on the Pacific Rim of Fire, a region notorious for frequent earthquakes. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology reported that Tuesday’s earthquake originated from an offshore fault that had remained dormant for four centuries, making it the deadliest quake in the Philippines since 2013.
Many residents impacted by this recent earthquake had relocated to the area following Super Typhoon Haiyan in 2013, which devastated the Philippines and killed over 6,000 people. Having lost everything to Haiyan, the most powerful typhoon to make landfall in a century, some found refuge in Bogo City, in a special village designed by a charity to withstand extreme winds. Yet, much of this resilient settlement unfortunately could not withstand the force of the earthquake.
An image shows residents gathering in a makeshift shelter in Bogo City on Thursday, seeking refuge and support. (Photo by Jes Aznar for The New York Times)
Another photo reveals patients in Bogo City receiving medical treatment outdoors on Thursday, as the local hospital sustained significant damage from the 6.9-magnitude earthquake. (Photo by Jes Aznar for The New York Times)
President Marcos sought to reassure the affected villagers and others that his government, which has recently faced accusations of mismanaging relief funds, would not abandon them.
“We will continue to coordinate closely with local leaders to ensure that the rehabilitation process is seamless and that all necessary support is effectively delivered,” he affirmed.