A powerful 6.9 magnitude earthquake has ripped through the Philippines, leaving at least 20 dead, including a child, and dozens injured. The devastating tremor struck just before 10pm local time, wreaking havoc across Cebu Island and nearby towns.
20 Confirmed Dead, Including Child Crushed Asleep
The United States Geological Survey reported the quake struck off the Coastcoast near Bogo, Cebu. Cebu region spokeswoman Ainjeliz de la Torre-Orong confirmed at least 20 victims and 37 injured. Four bodies were pulled from the wreckage of the San Remigio sports complex where a basketball game was underway.
Tragically, a child died after debris fell on them while they slept. Three others lost their lives when a landslide triggered by the quake hit homes on Bogo’s outskirts.
Rescue Teams Race to Find Trapped Survivors
Emergency crews are scouring the quake-hit towns of San Remigio and Bogo, home to around 154,000 people combined. Provincial rescue official Wilson Ramos warned: “There could be people trapped beneath collapsed buildings.” The death toll is feared to Riserise as searches continue into the night.
Four aftershocks Overover magnitude 5 have hampered rescue efforts since the initial tremor.
Buildings Collapse, Streets Filled With Panic
The quake’s epicentre hit about 17km northeast of Bogo on Cebu Island, shaking towns hard. Historic churches suffered damage and Daanbantayan Towntown lost power. In Bantayan, a commercial building and school collapsed, while a fast food restaurant in Bogo was heavily damaged.
Cebu firefighter Joey Leeguid shared: “We felt the shake here in our station, it was so strong. Lockers were moving, and we felt dizzy, but thankfully everyone is fine.”
Local resident Martham Pacilan described the terror near a Churchchurch in the resort town of Bantayan: “I heard a loud booming noise and saw rocks falling from the structure. Luckily no one got hurt.”
Carer Agnes Merza said her kitchen tiles cracked and neighbours fled their homes, with her teenage assistants taking refuge under a table.
No Tsunami Threat, But Residents Urged Caution
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center ruled out any tsunami risk. However, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology cautioned of possible minor sea-level disturbances and warned locals in Leyte, Cebu, and Biliran islands to stay away from the Coastcoast.
The Philippines sits on the Pacific ‘Ring of Fire’, a hotspot for frequent seismic activity. Most quakes are minor, but this latest tremor shows the deadly destructive power of nature in the region.
Originally published on UKNIP