At least 69 people have been killed and dozens injured after a powerful 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck the central Philippines late on Tuesday. The province of Cebu, which suffered the brunt of the damage, declared a state of calamity early on Wednesday, after thousands spent the night on the streets amid repeated aftershocks. Residents reported power and water supplies were cut off, leaving many traumatized amidst the chaos.
The earthquake followed closely behind back-to-back typhoons, which had already left a toll of more than a dozen fatalities in the region. Most victims came from Bogo city, the closest to the earthquake's epicenter, where images reveal cadaver bags and hundreds being treated in temporary medical facilities.
Local authorities are appealing for medical volunteers and facing challenges from severely damaged infrastructure, including cracked roads and fallen bridges that hamper emergency services. Reports highlight that seven victims had previously lived in a community built for survivors of Typhoon Haiyan, which had devastated the same area 12 years prior.
As the community grapples with this latest tragedy, officials are prioritizing search and rescue operations. Following the main earthquake, Bogo experienced an aftershock with a magnitude of 4.7, causing additional tremors felt throughout Cebu City and neighboring areas. The regional archbishop has cautioned against visiting churches pending safety assessments, highlighting the potential strain on Cebu's historical sites that were affected.
This earthquake adds to the Philippines' history of vulnerability to natural disasters, situated on the seismic "Ring of Fire." With ongoing rescue and recovery efforts, the local disaster agency is working to report accurate casualty figures, which are expected to rise as verification processes continue.
The earthquake followed closely behind back-to-back typhoons, which had already left a toll of more than a dozen fatalities in the region. Most victims came from Bogo city, the closest to the earthquake's epicenter, where images reveal cadaver bags and hundreds being treated in temporary medical facilities.
Local authorities are appealing for medical volunteers and facing challenges from severely damaged infrastructure, including cracked roads and fallen bridges that hamper emergency services. Reports highlight that seven victims had previously lived in a community built for survivors of Typhoon Haiyan, which had devastated the same area 12 years prior.
As the community grapples with this latest tragedy, officials are prioritizing search and rescue operations. Following the main earthquake, Bogo experienced an aftershock with a magnitude of 4.7, causing additional tremors felt throughout Cebu City and neighboring areas. The regional archbishop has cautioned against visiting churches pending safety assessments, highlighting the potential strain on Cebu's historical sites that were affected.
This earthquake adds to the Philippines' history of vulnerability to natural disasters, situated on the seismic "Ring of Fire." With ongoing rescue and recovery efforts, the local disaster agency is working to report accurate casualty figures, which are expected to rise as verification processes continue.
