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. One Cebu resident told the BBC he was among them, adding that power and water supplies were cut off. He says the voices of crying children could be heard around him, adding that they were 'traumatised'. The earthquake comes barely more than a week after the country was hit by back-to-back typhoons which killed more than 20 people.

Most of the victims were from Bogo, the town closest to the epicenter. Images from the area depict numerous body bags and tens of people receiving treatment in temporary hospitals. Search and rescue efforts are being hampered by damaged infrastructure, while appeals have been made for medical volunteers.

Cebu's archbishop advised the community to avoid churches until assessments can confirm their structural integrity. Earlier footage showcased the catastrophic collapse of a bell tower in one of the area's historic churches.

With the Philippines located on the geologically active 'Ring of Fire', it experiences a high frequency of earthquakes and typhoons, making it particularly vulnerable to natural disasters.