Manila (Philippines), Oct 1: At least 27 people were killed and more than 140 people were injured after a powerful 6.9-magnitude earthquake jolted Cebu province in the central Philippines on Tuesday night, local media reported Wednesday.
Officials warned that the death toll could rise even further as rescuers continue to reach collapsed buildings.
As per reports, the earthquake hit off the coast of Bogo City in Cebu province, located in the central Visayas region, just before 10 p.m. (1400 GMT) on Tuesday. It caused power outages and brought down buildings, including a church over 100 years old.
Cebu province, a popular tourist destination in the Philippines, is home to 3.4 million people. Despite the earthquake, Mactan-Cebu International Airport, the country's second busiest, remained operational.
The quake caused the most damage in northern Cebu, particularly in San Remigio, which has been placed under a state of calamity to support response and relief efforts.
Alfie Reynes, the vice mayor of San Remigio, made an appeal for food and water for evacuees, as well as heavy equipment to assist search and rescue teams.
"It’s pouring rain, and we’re without power, so we urgently need help—especially in the northern areas where water is in short supply after the earthquake damaged the supply lines," Reynes told DZMM radio.
In the nearby city of Bogo, close to the earthquake's epicenter, hospital patients were evacuated, and strong aftershocks prompted many residents to seek refuge in evacuation centers or stay out on the streets.
Earthquake monitoring agencies reported the quake at a depth of approximately 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) and recorded several aftershocks, the strongest reaching a magnitude of 6. No tsunami threat was issued following the quake.
The Philippines sits along the Pacific "Ring of Fire," a region prone to frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity. The country experienced two major quakes in January without any reported casualties. In 2023, however, a 6.7-magnitude offshore earthquake claimed eight lives.
