6.9-magnitude quake hits Cebu; 69 dead

Historic churches and modern structures crumbled

6.9-magnitude quake hits Cebu; 69 dead

By Bing Jabadan & Wilma Yamzon – TheNationWeek.Com | October 1, 2025

CEBU CITY, Philippines – A 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck Cebu Tuesday night (September 30, 2025), leaving at least 69 dead and an undetermined number of people missing.

Authorities have declared a “state of calamity” as rescue teams struggle to reach survivors amid collapsed buildings, cracked bridges, and damaged roads.

The quake, which hit about 10 p.m. (local time), sent shockwaves throughout the province.

Its epicenter was located off the northeast coast of Cebu near Bogo.

“Bang! It was as if the Earth stopped spinning,” a resident of Cebu City recounted, describing the terrifying moment the ground began to shake.

While the Cebu Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) reported 61 fatalities, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) confirmed 26 deaths as of Wednesday morning.

Search and rescue operations were ongoing.

A report by the PDRRMO detailed the number of deaths: 27 in Bogo; 10 in Medellin; 22 in San Remigio; one in Sogod; and one in Tabuelan.

Cadaver bags lined the streets, while those injured were being treated in makeshift tent hospitals.

On Wednesday (October 1, 2025), a magnitude 4.7 aftershock rocked Bogo City, further hindering rescue efforts.

The NDRRMC reported 147 injuries and significant damage to infrastructure, including three bridges and a road section that cracked wide open.

Power outages were also reported in eight areas.

The towns of San Remigio and Tabuelan have declared a state of calamity to access additional resources for relief and recovery operations.

The military has been deployed to assist in relief operations, while the Philippine National Police has mobilized personnel to secure affected areas, assist in evacuations, and maintain public order.

“Our personnel on the ground were among the first responders, and we assure the people of Cebu that we will extend all the necessary assistance,” said Philippine National Police acting chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez.

Located on the geologically unstable “Ring of Fire,” the Philippines is particularly vulnerable to natural disasters.

The earthquake followed a week of back-to-back typhoons and an unusually wet monsoon season, compounding the already dire situation in the country.

Experts at the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said the earthquake might have been triggered by a fault dormant for 400 years.

Vice President Sara Duterte extended condolences to the victims’ families and pledged assistance to the affected communities.

As rescue efforts intensify and authorities work to restore essential services, the people of Cebu are now facing a long road to recovery.