A powerful earthquake struck the central Philippines on Tuesday night, sending terrified residents rushing into the streets. The tremor caused extensive damage to buildings and roads, and tragically resulted in the deaths of at least six people, as confirmed by officials and news reports.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology reported that the 6.9-magnitude earthquake rattled the densely populated province of Cebu, home to 3.2 million people, just before 10 p.m. local time. The initial shock was followed by a series of significant aftershocks, adding to the region’s distress.
In the municipality of Medellin, authorities reported on their social media that one person had died and many others were injured. The quake also led to the collapse of a water tank and rendered several bridges impassable.
Captain Jan Ace Elcid Layug, the officer in charge of the San Remigio police, confirmed five fatalities in his town to a local news outlet. Four of the victims were playing basketball in a sports complex when it collapsed, including a member of the Bureau of Fire Protection and three members of the Philippine Coast Guard. The fifth victim in San Remigio was a child tragically trapped in rubble elsewhere.
Following the devastation, officials in San Remigio announced their intention to declare a “state of calamity.” This declaration would enable them to quickly mobilize vital resources to assist the earthquake-affected population.
An interactive map illustrating the shake intensity across the affected region shows areas experiencing ‘light’ to ‘strong’ tremors, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. All times shown on the map reflect Philippine time.
Residents sought safety in the streets of Cebu after the earthquake tremors. Credit: Alan Tangcawan/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
In response to the structural damage, authorities in Cebu announced that schools and government buildings would remain closed on Wednesday for thorough inspections.
The Archdiocese of Cebu issued a statement advising that churches, which were severely affected, should not be used for Masses until they have been inspected and deemed safe. Photos circulating on social media showed significant damage to several churches, including parts of the stone structure of the Archdiocesan Shrine of Santa Rosa de Lima in Cebu, which had collapsed into rubble.
Local news reports also featured images of damaged fast-food restaurants and apartment buildings, underscoring the widespread impact of the tremor.
Initially, authorities had cautioned about a “minor sea-level disturbance” post-earthquake, urging people to evacuate coastal areas. However, this warning was later lifted as the immediate danger passed.
Earthquakes are a frequent occurrence in the Philippines, an archipelago comprising over 7,000 islands, situated along the infamous “Ring of Fire”—a geologically active region in the Pacific where tectonic plates constantly shift and collide. The country has experienced several notable quakes in recent years: a 6.7-magnitude earthquake in November 2023 caused at least seven deaths and hundreds of injuries in the southern Philippines. In July 2023, a 7-magnitude quake in the northern Philippines claimed at least four lives. Furthermore, several deadly earthquakes, including a 6.9-magnitude tremor that killed at least two people, struck the southern Philippines in 2019.