Death Toll Rises to 70 After 6.9-Magnitude Cebu Earthquake
Manila: The death toll from Tuesday’s magnitude 6.9 earthquake in Cebu province, central Philippines, has risen to 70, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported on Saturday.
Of the fatalities, 32 occurred in Bogo City, the quake’s epicenter, 15 in San Remigio, 14 in Medellin, six in Tabogon, and one each in Sogod, Tabuelan, and Borbon. In addition, 559 people were injured in the 5-kilometer-deep offshore quake that struck at 9:59 p.m. local time while residents were asleep or preparing for bed.
The tremor affected more than 120,000 families—around 457,000 people—damaging over 18,000 homes and more than 500 infrastructures, including roads, bridges, and a city hospital.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology has recorded over 5,000 aftershocks so far, prompting residents to remain in makeshift tents in open areas due to fears of further tremors. Authorities confirmed that all residents have now been accounted for.
The government has concluded search, rescue, and retrieval operations and is now focusing on relief, early recovery, and rehabilitation. Nearly four days after the quake, survivors still rely on aid for food, water, and essential supplies such as first aid kits, hygiene products, tents, sleeping bags, and generators amid ongoing power outages.
The Philippines lies along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a region frequently affected by earthquakes and volcanic activity.
