Philippines Reports Over Twenty-Five Fatalities in Cebu Earthquake

(MENAFN) At least 26 fatalities and 147 injuries have been reported following a powerful 6.9-magnitude earthquake that rocked Cebu province in the central Philippines late Tuesday, the Philippines' National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council confirmed Wednesday. Officials warn the death toll may rise as rescue efforts continue and further reports emerge.

The seismic event caused significant damage to infrastructure, including roads and bridges, complicating relief operations. According to a local media outlet, the influx of injured victims at Cebu Provincial Hospital in Bogo City has overwhelmed medical personnel. The newspaper shared poignant images showing grieving families in Bogo City mourning beside bodies wrapped in black bags.

Initially, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology recorded the earthquake’s magnitude at 6.7, occurring at 9:59 p.m. local time. This was later updated to a 6.9 magnitude, with the quake originating 5 kilometers below the surface, roughly 19 kilometers northeast of Bogo City.

The powerful tremor was felt across neighboring provinces in central Philippines and even extended to parts of the southern regions. The Philippines’ location on the Pacific “Ring of Fire” underscores its vulnerability to frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity.

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