A powerful 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck the central Philippines late Tuesday, killing at least 69 people and leaving widespread destruction across Cebu province and surrounding areas.
The tremor hit around 10pm local time, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS), which reported the shallow quake’s epicenter west of Palompon, near the city of Bogo. The force of the shaking caused buildings to collapse, fires to ignite, and debris to scatter through city streets.
Civil Defense officials confirmed at least 69 fatalities, with more than 150 people believed to be injured. Emergency services rushed to respond as hospitals, including the main facility in Bogo, became overwhelmed with victims.
“The hospital in Bogo had been ‘overwhelmed,’” Civil Defense official Raffy Alejandro told reporters.
In San Remigio, a sports complex collapsed during a basketball game, killing at least 13 people, including three Philippine Coast Guard members and a firefighter, according to Philippine Red Cross chairman Richard Gordon. Red Cross paramedics treated more than 60 others across three provinces.
“Some churches partially collapsed, and some schools had to be evacuated,” Gordon said. “This was a sleeper. It crept up on us.”
The earthquake’s devastation extended beyond Bogo. In Daanbantayan, the facade of St. Rita Church fell, drawing concern over the loss of Cebu’s heritage landmarks.
“The current situation in Daanbantayan highlights the severe impact of the earthquake on heritage structures, which form part of Cebu’s rich cultural and spiritual identity,” Governor Pam Baricuatro wrote in a Facebook post.
Footage on social media showed flames erupting at a Cebu mall, a McDonald’s heavily damaged, and beauty pageant contestants fleeing a stage as the quake struck. The Philippine Red Cross reported debris and cracks at several schools in Cebu, along with temporary power outages.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) recorded multiple aftershocks in the hours following the quake but lifted a tsunami warning for Leyte, Biliran, and Cebu provinces by early Wednesday.
Phivolcs also confirmed a minor eruption at Taal volcano, about 70 kilometers south of Manila, which sent a 2,500-meter-high ash plume drifting northwest. Despite the activity, the volcano’s alert level remains at Level 1.
Governor Baricuatro urged residents to stay calm, assuring them that the presidential office had pledged immediate aid. “Know that the provincial government is doing its best. Help is coming,” she said in a video message.
The municipality of Medellin later announced that classes and work would be suspended until buildings could be inspected.
According to USGS estimates, more than half a million people experienced very strong shaking across the Visayan Islands, which include Cebu, Biliran, and Leyte.
The Philippines lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a 25,000-mile arc of seismic faults prone to frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity.
In 2022, a 7.0-magnitude quake in northern Luzon killed at least five people and injured over 100, while a 6.1-magnitude quake in 2019 left 11 dead.
