Authorities renew call for vigilance as aftershocks, ground hazards persist

Authorities have renewed their call for vigilance across Northern Cebu as aftershocks continue to rattle the region and ground hazards intensify following the Magnitude 6.9 offshore earthquake that struck on September 30, 2025.

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As of the latest count, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has recorded 9,965 aftershocks, 44 of which were felt, with magnitudes ranging from 1.0 to 5.1.

The agency warned that aftershocks may persist for weeks and could still trigger landslides, structural collapse, and sinkhole formation.

In a joint effort to mitigate risks, Phivolcs and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau Region VII (MGB-7) issued advisories highlighting the dangers posed by unstable ground conditions.

Aerial photos released by Phivolcs show earthquake-induced landslides in San Remigio, Tabogon, and several barangays in Bogo City, caused by the movement of the Bogo Bay Fault.

The downslope movement of rocks, soil, and debris has led to erosion, burial, and the blockage of roads and rivers, further endangering communities.

MGB-7 confirmed the emergence of sinkholes and land subsidence in the municipalities hardest hit by the quake, including Bogo City, Daanbantayan, Medellin, San Remigio, and Tabuelan.

These areas have been classified as high subsidence hazard zones, with sinkholes—particularly those formed by cover collapse—posing serious threats to life, property, and infrastructure.