An undersea 6.9-magnitude quake caused walls of homes and structures to crumble late Tuesday in a central province of the Philippines, resulting in the loss of at least 69 lives, numerous injuries, and residents fleeing their homes in darkness as power was disrupted by the intense tremors, according to officials.
The quake’s epicenter, triggered by a local fault, was approximately 17 kilometers northeast of Bogo, a coastal city with a population of around 90,000 in Cebu province, where 14 individuals perished, confirmed disaster mitigation officer Rex Ygot in a phone interview with The Associated Press.
The death toll in Bogo was anticipated to climb.
Efforts were underway to transport a backhoe to expedite search-and-rescue operations in a cluster of makeshift dwellings in a mountain village struck by a landslide and boulders, stated Glenn Ursal, another disaster mitigation officer. “Navigating the area is challenging due to the hazards,” he added. Several survivors were already taken to a medical facility.
In the town of San Remigio, located south of Bogo, six individuals, including three coast guard personnel, a firefighter, and a child, lost their lives, as reported by the town’s vice-mayor, Alfie Reynes, to the DZMM radio network, without specifying the causes of death.
Reynes made an appeal for food and water due to damage to San Remigio’s water system caused by the quake. He highlighted the potential necessity for heavy machinery to address the destruction in mountain communities in the vicinity.
In Bogo, the seismic activity resulted in the collapse of concrete walls of residences, a fire station, and roads made of concrete and asphalt, shared firefighter Rey Cañete.
“We were at our quarters preparing to retire for the night when the ground began shaking, prompting us to evacuate. However, we stumbled due to the violent tremors,” recounted Cañete over the phone. He mentioned sustaining cuts and bruises, along with three other firefighters.
A concrete barrier at their fire station also gave way, causing injuries to at least three locals due to falling debris and collapsed walls. Among the wounded was an elderly man with head injuries who was rushed to a nearby hospital. Cañete expressed concerns that more residents might have been harmed by the force of the quake.
After the quake struck in Bogo, hundreds of frightened residents congregated in a grassy area near the fire station and refused to return home even hours later.
Numerous businesses displayed visible damage, and the roads they were situated on showed deep fissures, as noted by Cañete. Additionally, an old Roman Catholic church near Bogo in Daanbantayan town sustained damage.
Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro reported that several residences and a hospital in Bogo and surrounding areas were impacted, necessitating the dispatch of emergency medical teams to assist those trapped or injured.
The full extent of the destruction and injuries would only be ascertainable with daylight, she mentioned.
“We are sending a trauma team, with doctors and nurses en route. We urgently require medical supplies, food, and additional medical personnel,” stressed Baricuatro in an interview with the DZMM radio network.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology briefly issued a tsunami alert, advising people to steer clear of coastal areas in Cebu, Leyte, and Biliran due to potential waves reaching up to one meter.
Teresito Bacolcol, the institute’s director, informed The AP that the tsunami warning was subsequently rescinded, with no abnormal waves detected.
Central Philippine regions were still recuperating from a recent storm that claimed at least 27 lives, primarily due to drownings and fallen trees, causing widespread power outages and necessitating the evacuation of tens of thousands of individuals.
Being situated on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a region rife with seismic activity, the Philippines encounters frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Moreover, the nation contends with approximately 20 typhoons and storms annually.
