The death toll from a magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck off the central Philippines late on Tuesday has risen to 72, the civil defence agency said on Thursday (2 October).
Another 294 people were injured, the agency said in a report. The latest death toll was an increase of three from Wednesday and all fatalities were recorded in the central Visayas region.
As rescue operations continue, survivors in the worst-hit city of Bogo are confronting widespread power outages, destroyed homes, and overwhelmed medical facilities.
Many residents have been forced to sleep outdoors in tents or their vehicles, gathering in open spaces to collect relief supplies as darkness fell.
In affected neighbourhoods, houses sustained severe damage as terraces collapsed, and wooden and sheet-metal structures were destroyed. Some residents remained in their damaged homes despite the danger.
Fear of aftershocks and structural damage forced the Cebu Provincial Hospital in Bogo to move bed-bound patients outside to receive treatment, including intravenous drips and oxygen, in the parking lot. The hospital is also functioning as a coordination centre for rescue operations and casualty reporting.
The shallow quake struck waters off the central island of Cebu late at night, damaging power lines, bridges and multiple buildings, including a church that was more than 100 years old.
Early on Wednesday, military vehicles carrying critical aid arrived in the affected areas, delivering much-needed supplies to the devastated communities.
Mark Ochea, who was working as a security guard at a McDonald’s fast food restaurant when the disaster struck, described the scene when the building collapsed.
“It really collapsed. It was like, bam, and then the other side of our building collapsed,” the 36-year-old said outside the restaurant now surrounded by rubble.
“It’s a good thing that all of the people were all out front.”
Meanwhile, 47-year-old tricycle driver Sonny Cuse was thankful his family and neighbours escaped unscathed even though they were all afraid.
“We were afraid," Sonny said. "We thought we would have died by today, but we’re thankful that we are all safe. I’m thankful to the Lord.”
The Cebu quake was the country's deadliest since at least 2013, when a 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck the neighbouring island of Bohol, killing 222 people.
The Philippines sits on the Pacific 'Ring of Fire' and experiences more than 800 quakes each year.
Thousands of residents blocked Austria’s Brenner motorway on Saturday (30 May), shutting down a major north-south transport route through the Alps i...
South Africa's preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have suffered an unexpected setback after the national team failed to depart for Mexico as sch...
Five people have died after a mine shaft collapsed during an illegal mining operation in southwestern China, state media reported on Sunday (31 May), ...
The Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) football team retained its Champions League title at Puskás Aréna in Budapest on Saturday night, after overcoming A...
U.S. rapper Kanye West, now known as Ye, performed to a crowd of 118,000 people in Istanbul on Saturday night, marking his first concert in Europe in ...
Rescuers pulled two people from the rubble of a collapsed building under construction in the Philippines, raising the death toll to three. Search and rescue operations continued after scans detected signs of life beneath the debris.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called an emergency meeting of senior government and security officials on Thursday after gunfire erupted inside the Senate building in Manila, deepening an escalating political crisis centred on Senator Ronald dela Rosa.
Gunshots erupted at the Philippine Senate in Manila on Wednesday, sending lawmakers, staff and visitors scrambling for cover amid fears Senator Ronald dela Rosa was about to be detained over an International Criminal Court warrant.
Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte has again been impeached by the country’s lower house, more than a year after an earlier impeachment complaint against her was dismissed on constitutional grounds.
U.S. rapper Kanye West, now known as Ye, performed to a crowd of 118,000 people in Istanbul on Saturday night, marking his first concert in Europe in more than a decade, despite being barred from performing in several countries over past antisemitic remarks.
Iranian-made Yassin missiles were spotted mounted on Armenian Air Force fighter aircraft during Armenia's latest military parade on Thursday (28 May), drawing attention from defence observers and regional analysts.
The Philippines remains under a "severe threat" from China despite recent efforts by Washington and Beijing to ease tensions, Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said on Saturday (30 May).
Thai rescuers say five people have been pulled alive from a flooded cave in remote Laos, where seven villagers became trapped after heavy rain cut off access underground.
Russia has recalled its ambassador to Armenia for consultations, citing Yerevan's growing rapprochement with the European Union. The move is seen as the latest sign of deteriorating relations between the longtime allies ahead of Armenia's parliamentary election on 7 June.
South Africa's preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have suffered an unexpected setback after the national team failed to depart for Mexico as scheduled on Sunday (31 May) because some players and officials had not yet received their visas.
Five people have died after a mine shaft collapsed during an illegal mining operation in southwestern China, state media reported on Sunday (31 May), just days after the country's deadliest mining disaster in more than a decade claimed at least 82 lives.
Thousands of people gathered across Colombo on Saturday night (30 May) as Sri Lanka's capital came alive with light and colour for Vesak, one of the most important festivals in the Buddhist calendar.
The Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) football team retained its Champions League title at Puskás Aréna in Budapest on Saturday night, after overcoming Arsenal 4-3 on penalties after a tense 1-1 draw following extra time.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) says the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda is continuing to spread, with 263 confirmed cases and 43 deaths reported as of 30 May.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment