Manila (TDI): A powerful earthquake that struck the central Philippines late Tuesday has left nearly 60 people dead, with hospitals on the island of Cebu overwhelmed by the injured. Emergency workers carried dozens of bodies in bags to waiting vans as the chaotic aftermath unfolded.
The magnitude 6.9 quake, recorded at 9:59 p.m. (1359 GMT) by the US Geological Survey, hit off the northern coast of Cebu near Bogo City, home to around 90,000 residents. Hundreds of aftershocks shook the region throughout the night, forcing patients out of hospital wards and into makeshift treatment areas under tents.
At Cebu Provincial Hospital, injured adults screamed in pain while children cried as medical staff worked frantically outside, fearing further damage to the building.
Officials say the toll could climb further. “We are receiving additional reports of casualties, this is still very fluid,” Civil Defense deputy administrator Rafaelito Alejandro told reporters in Manila. Earlier figures from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council listed 147 injured and at least 22 buildings damaged across the central islands.
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Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro said that some patients were treated outside hospitals due to the high volume of serious injuries. The provincial government has appealed for volunteer medical workers to help manage the crisis.
Dramatic scenes from the quake circulated widely on social media. On Bantayan island, an old Catholic church belfry collapsed into its courtyard as nearby residents looked on.
Television footage showed a Cebu bridge swaying violently as motorcyclists dismounted and clung to the railings. In Cebu City, shoppers scrambled for safety as a mall ceiling gave way.
Power outages hit Cebu and surrounding islands after transmission lines tripped, though electricity was restored in several areas shortly after midnight. Roads cracked in some towns, while a number of commercial and school buildings collapsed.
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The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said the area had been rocked by more than 370 aftershocks by Wednesday morning, complicating rescue and recovery efforts. Officials fear more people may be trapped under rubble.
The Philippines lies on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” where earthquakes are common. Most are minor, but as this week’s disaster shows, major quakes strike without warning and can cause widespread destruction.
