A devastating 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck the central Philippines late on Tuesday, claiming the lives of at least 69 people and leaving dozens more injured. The province of Cebu, bearing the brunt of the impact, has declared a state of calamity. Thousands were forced to spend the night outdoors due to the tremors and frequent aftershocks.
One resident from Cebu described the harrowing experience, recounting the loss of power and water supplies and hearing the cries of traumatized children. This natural disaster follows closely behind a series of back-to-back typhoons that recently hit the country, causing significant loss of life.
The town of Bogo, situated near the earthquake’s epicentre, has been particularly hard-hit, with images emerging of body bags on the streets and makeshift tent hospitals treating the injured. Officials have reported extensive damage, and appeals for medical volunteers have been issued.
Access for emergency services has been severely hampered by damaged roads and collapsed bridges, with power outages further complicating communication efforts with affected areas. Notably, seven of the victims in Bogo were from a village previously established for those displaced by Typhoon Haiyan, a devastating storm from 12 years ago that claimed over 6,000 lives.
During a basketball game in San Remigio when the earthquake struck, nearly 20 attendees were hospitalized, and at least one fatality was reported from the event. National police and fire officials are prioritizing search and rescue operations, working to restore power and deliver essential relief supplies.
Cebu’s Archbishop has advised worshippers to avoid churches until their structural integrity can be assessed, a significant warning given the region’s many historic churches, some of which have reportedly sustained damage, including the partial collapse of an old Catholic church tower.
The Philippines, located on the geologically active “Ring of Fire,” is highly susceptible to natural disasters, including earthquakes and typhoons. The country’s vulnerability is compounded by its location in the path of frequent Pacific typhoons, as seen with recent tropical storms that led to evacuations and casualties.
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