Cebu Earthquake Death Toll Rises to 26
6.9 MAGNITUDE CEBU EARTHQUAKE – The death toll from the powerful earthquake that struck Cebu has risen to 26, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). Authorities clarified that these reported fatalities are still subject to further validation. Alongside the deaths, 147 individuals were confirmed injured, though no one has been reported missing.
The earthquake, which hit on Tuesday night, registered a magnitude of 6.9, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS). It was tectonic in origin and had a shallow depth of only five kilometers, which made its impact more destructive. The epicenter was located 19 kilometers northeast of Bogo City in northern Cebu, one of the areas that sustained the heaviest damage.
PHIVOLCS reported that several towns in Cebu, including Bogo, Daanbantayan, Medellin, San Remigio, and Tabuelan, experienced Intensity VII shaking, described as “very strong” and capable of causing significant structural damage. Neighboring areas such as Bantayan, Borbon, Catmon, and Sogod also recorded intense tremors at Intensity VI. Meanwhile, other provinces across the Visayas, as well as parts of Mindanao and Luzon, felt varying degrees of the quake, ranging from Intensity V down to Intensity I. Cities such as Cebu, Lapu-Lapu, Ormoc, Tacloban, and even as far as Legazpi and Cagayan de Oro were affected.
Because of the earthquake’s strength and the wide area it covered, PHIVOLCS warned of possible aftershocks and urged communities to remain cautious. Authorities also expect structural damage in some affected regions. Residents in northern Cebu described the tremor as one of the strongest they had ever experienced, forcing many to leave their homes and spend the night outdoors out of fear of additional quakes.
Rescue teams, local government units, and emergency responders continue to monitor the situation and extend assistance to the injured. Meanwhile, relief operations are being prepared for families whose homes and livelihoods were severely affected.