A community designed over a decade ago as a safe haven for those who survived Super Typhoon Haiyan now finds itself devastated once more, directly in the path of a powerful earthquake that struck the Philippines late Tuesday.
Tragically, this village alone accounted for at least 10 fatalities, according to Wilson Ramos, an emergency worker. This contributes to the mounting death toll of at least 69 confirmed across Cebu Province, the epicenter of the 6.9-magnitude temblor.
“This entire area was created specifically to protect storm survivors and residents from high-risk areas,” Mr. Ramos explained. He added, “While it’s unclear if the recent victims were also Haiyan survivors after more than a decade, this community was always meant to offer them a fresh start and a secure home.”
As dozens more remain missing, rescue teams tirelessly fanned out across Cebu on Wednesday, desperately searching for survivors buried beneath the debris. Following the catastrophe, Governor Pamela Baricuatro declared a state of emergency for the entire province, situated approximately 350 miles south of Manila.
During a news briefing, Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro, a deputy administrator for the civil defense office, confirmed that initial response efforts are concentrated on the northern reaches of Cebu’s main island, particularly in Bogo City, home to the Haiyan survivors’ village established in 2014.
Established with charity funding, the village aimed to offer 200 “disaster-resilient homes” to those impacted by Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), which tragically claimed over 6,000 lives in 2013. It also served to resettle residents from vulnerable coastal regions.
However, when the earthquake struck, ceilings tragically collapsed, contributing significantly to the high death toll, as noted by Mikee Empaces, executive secretary in the governor’s office.
Jeany Ynot, who heads Bogo City’s disaster unit, recounted the grim reality: “Some families were completely wiped out, and in other cases, multiple members of a single family perished.”
SM Cares, the philanthropic arm of a major Philippine corporation, was responsible for establishing the village. They did not respond immediately to an email seeking comment Wednesday evening.
Elsewhere, the quake triggered devastating landslides, burying numerous residents under soil and massive boulders. The mountainous village of Binabag was particularly hard hit, Ms. Ynot confirmed in an interview.
“Currently, our absolute priority is search and rescue operations,” Mr. Alejandro stated at the briefing.
He further emphasized, “Numerous individuals are reported to be trapped beneath debris from the earthquake.”
Mr. Alejandro also mentioned that his office had requested additional personnel for the Bogo City district hospital, which is struggling to cope with an influx of patients.
Officials reported extensive infrastructure damage across the affected region: at least 11 bridges are now impassable, vital roads are blocked by landslides, and government buildings — including Bogo City Hall, a municipal hall in a neighboring town, and a sports complex — have either collapsed entirely or suffered partial destruction.
Ms. Empaces added that two or three hospitals were rendered unusable, and power and communication services were cut off in at least three municipalities.
To address the widespread damage, Mr. Alejandro stated that public works personnel are being deployed to Cebu with instructions to prioritize the inspection and repair of hospitals, schools, and roads.
“Our immediate goals are to restore power and ensure the structural integrity of all buildings,” he affirmed.
In Bogo City alone, approximately 1,000 residents are currently displaced, forced to seek refuge in open spaces while their homes await safety inspections, Mr. Alejandro reported.
This recent quake marks the deadliest such event in the Philippines since a powerful temblor struck Bohol in 2013.