(source : ANI) ( Photo Credit : ani)
A powerful 6.9-magnitude earthquake rocked the coast off Cebu Island in the central Philippines late Tuesday, leaving at least 60 people dead and nearly 150 injured, officials confirmed Wednesday.
The quake hit at 9:59 p.m. local time near the northern tip of Cebu, close to Bogo city, which has around 90,000 residents. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, four aftershocks of magnitude 5 or more followed soon after, shaking the region even more.
Rafaelito Alejandro, deputy administrator of the Philippines’ Office of Civil Defense, shared the updated death toll in Manila. “We’re getting more reports of casualties, so the situation is fluid,” he told reporters. “We’ve heard as many as 60 people have died in this earthquake.” That’s a big jump from the earlier count of 26 deaths reported by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
Local news says authorities have declared a state of calamity in parts of Cebu to speed up relief efforts. The quake knocked out power across the area and toppled buildings, causing widespread chaos.
Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro posted a video on social media, saying her team is still checking the full extent of the damage. “It could be worse than we think,” she warned, noting she’s coordinating with the president’s office for urgent aid. The province’s official Facebook page called for medical volunteers to help those hurt.
Baricuatro added that an unknown number of homes and a hospital suffered damage. Emergency medical teams are now rushing in to treat the injured.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology is urging people in Cebu, Leyte, and Biliran provinces to avoid coastlines. They’re watching for a minor sea level change and any unusual waves that could signal a tsunami risk.
Rescue teams continue working around the clock as the Philippines earthquake death toll rises, with more details expected soon.
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