Death toll from Philippines earthquake rises to 72

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.

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Philippines Earthquake death toll Visayas Cebu City