A powerful 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck the central Philippines late Tuesday night, killing at least 60 people and injuring more than 150, according to national and local disaster officials.
The quake hit around 10 p.m. local time, with its epicenter located just west of Palompon, near Bogo City in Cebu province. Its shallow depth made the tremor particularly destructive, with widespread damage reported across nearby towns and cities.
By Wednesday morning, emergency responders, including military units, police, and civilian volunteers, were conducting door-to-door searches for survivors—many using sniffer dogs to locate people trapped under debris, the Associated Press reported.
Hospitals Overwhelmed, Communities Devastated
In Bogo City, a coastal area with a population of approximately 90,000, the local hospital was overwhelmed with casualties. Civil Defense official Raffy Alejandro said medical facilities were stretched beyond capacity. Images from the city showed streets choked with rubble and buildings reduced to shells.
Efforts to deliver heavy rescue equipment to remote areas were underway, especially in a mountain village where a landslide buried a cluster of homes. Rex Ygot, Bogo’s disaster-mitigation officer, confirmed that rescuers were working against the clock to reach those trapped.
Tragedy at Sports Complex in San Remigio
One of the deadliest incidents occurred in the nearby town of San Remigio, where a sports complex collapsed during a basketball game. At least 13 people were killed, including three members of the Philippine Coast Guard and one firefighter, according to Philippine Red Cross Chairman Richard Gordon.
Aftershocks and Ongoing Risk
Frequent aftershocks continued to rattle the region, forcing many residents to spend the night outside, fearing further collapses.
Search and rescue operations remain ongoing, with authorities warning that the death toll could rise as more debris is cleared and remote areas are reached.
