At least 19 people were killed and several others injured after a powerful 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck Cebu province in the central Philippines on Tuesday night, authorities and local media reported on Wednesday.
The provincial information office confirmed 13 deaths in Bogo City, the quake’s epicenter, while four fatalities occurred in San Remigio town and one in Medellin municipality. Multiple injuries were reported, alongside structural damage to homes, roads, and two bridges in Medellin.
Medical facilities in Bogo City, including Cebu Provincial Hospital, faced a surge of quake victims, straining resources as rescue teams continue to search for survivors.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology initially reported the earthquake at 6.7 magnitude, later revising it to 6.9. The tremor occurred at a shallow depth of 5 kilometers, about 19 kilometers northeast of Bogo City, intensifying its impact.
The earthquake’s tremors were felt across neighboring provinces in the central and southern Philippines, causing widespread alarm. Power outages were reported due to tripped lines, but electricity was restored shortly after midnight in Cebu and four surrounding islands, the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines said.
The Philippines, located along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” remains highly vulnerable to earthquakes and volcanic activity, underscoring the ongoing need for disaster preparedness.