At least 22 people were killed after a powerful earthquake struck Cebu late on Tuesday, officials said.
Nine of the fatalities were reported in Bogo City, the quake’s epicenter, according to the Cebu Provincial Information Office. The deaths also included three coast guard personnel, a firefighter and a child in the nearby towns of Medellin and San Remigio.
Some victims in San Remigio died when debris collapsed on spectators at a basketball game, while a child was killed after being pinned by rubble at home. Search and rescue operations remain underway.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology initially measured the tremor at magnitude 6.7 before upgrading it to 6.9. The shallow quake struck at 9:59 p.m. local time with an epicenter in Bogo, making surrounding towns especially vulnerable.
Governor Pamela Baricuatro said relief operations were mobilized, with disaster teams assessing road access to affected areas. The health department has dispatched trauma teams and medical supplies to Bogo, while Malacañang pledged immediate national aid.
In Mandaue City, San Miguel Brewery reported an ammonia leak following the quake. The Bureau of Fire Protection said the leak had been contained, with no serious injuries reported.
The Coast Guard raised its alert status, deploying search dogs and preparing a 97-meter vessel with medical teams for Cebu. San Remigio’s local government recommended declaring a state of calamity to speed relief efforts.
The National Grid Corp of the Philippines said the quake temporarily cut Leyte, Samar and parts of Bohol off from the Cebu-Negros-Panay power grid. Inspections of substations and transmission lines are ongoing.
Cebu Business News
