The death toll from Tuesday's 6.9-magnitude earthquake in Cebu province has risen to 69, according to Philippine civil defense officials. Bogo City near the epicenter suffered the most casualties with 30 deaths, while nearby towns recorded additional fatalities from collapsed structures.
The offshore tremor struck at 9:59 p.m. local time at a shallow depth of 5 kilometers, triggering more than 600 aftershocks across the region. Provincial authorities declared a state of calamity to unlock emergency funds and implement protective measures for residents.
Search and rescue teams continue working through debris to locate survivors as the death count may climb higher. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology initially measured the quake at 6.7 magnitude before revising it upward.
At least 147 people sustained injuries when buildings and walls crumbled during the disaster. The earthquake affected multiple provinces throughout central and southern Philippines due to the country's location on the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire.
The offshore tremor struck at 9:59 p.m. local time at a shallow depth of 5 kilometers, triggering more than 600 aftershocks across the region. Provincial authorities declared a state of calamity to unlock emergency funds and implement protective measures for residents.
Search and rescue teams continue working through debris to locate survivors as the death count may climb higher. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology initially measured the quake at 6.7 magnitude before revising it upward.
At least 147 people sustained injuries when buildings and walls crumbled during the disaster. The earthquake affected multiple provinces throughout central and southern Philippines due to the country's location on the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire.
