Powerful quake hits central Philippines, dozens killed

Powerful quake hits central Philippines, dozens killed

Deadly Earthquake Strikes Central Philippines, Rescue Efforts Underway

CEBU, Philippines (Oct 1) – A powerful 6.9-magnitude earthquake shook the central Philippines late Tuesday, leaving at least 69 people dead and dozens more injured, as rescuers rushed to search for survivors trapped in collapsed homes and buildings.

The shallow quake, one of the strongest to hit the country in a decade, struck just off the coast of Cebu island, rattling communities already weary from a season of storms and natural disasters. Electricity was cut in several towns, roads were cracked, and residents scrambled for safety as aftershocks continued into the night.

Jane Abapo, an official from the regional Civil Defense office, said the death toll had risen to 69 by Wednesday morning, based on figures provided by the provincial disaster agency. Those numbers, she cautioned, were still being validated as rescuers struggled to reach some of the hardest-hit villages. Earlier in the day, the national disaster agency reported at least 60 dead and 150 injured, underscoring how rapidly the crisis was evolving.

Hospitals Overwhelmed

In Bogo City, a coastal community near the quake’s epicenter, hospitals were overflowing with patients. Raffy Alejandro, another Civil Defense official, described scenes of chaos as doctors and nurses worked tirelessly to treat the injured. “The hospital is overwhelmed,” he told reporters. “We are doing our best to move patients and bring in more supplies, but the situation is very difficult.”

With medical facilities stretched thin, the Philippine Coast Guard deployed a vessel carrying doctors, nurses, and other emergency personnel to Bogo. The ship was also loaded with food, water, and medicine for survivors, many of whom were forced to sleep outdoors after their homes were destroyed or deemed unsafe.

Voices from the Ground

Survivors shared harrowing stories of the quake’s sudden fury. “The walls shook and then just gave way,” said 52-year-old fisherman Mario Santos, who pulled his two grandchildren from the rubble of their house in northern Cebu. “I thought we would all be buried alive.”

Others described the panic that spread through neighborhoods as the ground convulsed. “We ran outside, but everything was swaying — electric poles, trees, even the road felt like it was moving,” said Rosa Ramirez, a shopkeeper whose small store collapsed.

Government Response

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., already traveling to the region to oversee relief efforts for communities battered by Super Typhoon Ragasa last week, assured quake survivors that help was on the way. “We are assessing the damage, we are assessing the needs,” he said while distributing aid on the nearby island of Masbate.

Marcos confirmed that several cabinet secretaries had been dispatched to Cebu and surrounding provinces to coordinate emergency response and ensure relief operations were moving quickly.

A Nation on Edge

The Philippines, located on the seismically active Pacific “Ring of Fire,” experiences frequent earthquakes, but Tuesday’s temblor was particularly devastating given its shallow depth and proximity to densely populated areas. The disaster struck less than a week after Typhoon Ragasa caused widespread flooding and damage in the same region, leaving communities feeling battered and vulnerable.

“This is the reality of living here — storms, quakes, floods,” said Alejandro, the Civil Defense official. “But our people are resilient. Even in the darkest times, they find the strength to survive and rebuild.”

As rescue operations continued, many residents clung to hope that loved ones still missing would be found alive beneath the rubble. But with each passing hour, the weight of loss grew heavier across Cebu.

For now, the focus remains on saving lives — and on helping families cope with yet another tragedy in a nation all too familiar with natural disasters.