Powerful earthquake rocks central Philippines, killing at least 69 people

A 6.9-MAGNITUDE earthquake struck the central Philippine province of Cebu on Tuesday night, leaving at least 69 people dead, according to the local disaster agency.

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THE Archdiocesan Shrine of Santa Rosa de Lima in Daanbantayan, Cebu sustained heavy damage from the Sept. 30 quake.

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Most of the deaths were caused by fallen debris and occurred mostly in Bogo City, which was closest to the epicenter of the earthquake, and nearby municipalities including San Remigio, Office of Civil Defense (OCD) officer-in-charge Bernardo Rafaelito R. Alejandro IV told a news briefing on Wednesday.

He said authorities were focused on rescuing as many people as possible during the “golden hour” period — the first 24 hours after a quake when survival is more likely.

“We have already mobilized and deployed responding units from our uniformed personnel like the Armed Forces, Coast Guard, Philippine National Police and Bureau of Fire Protection,” he added,

At least 147 people were injured, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. pledged swift aid for survivors, saying Cabinet secretaries were on the ground leading relief operations, as he offered condolences to families who lost loved ones.

Cebu, a province of 3.4 million and one of the country’s top tourist hubs, sustained heavy damage, including on heritage churches, residential houses and schools, though Mactan-Cebu International Airport — the Philippines’ second-busiest gateway — remained open.

All ports and airports in the Visayas were fully operational, the Department of Transportation (DoTr) said in a statement.