Up to 60 Killed in Powerful Central Philippines Earthquake

A powerful earthquake that struck the central Philippines has claimed up to 60 lives, according to senior rescue officials. The disaster has left authorities scrambling as reports of casualties continue to rise.

Rafaelito Alejandro, Deputy Administrator of the Office of Civil Defence, told reporters in Manila on Wednesday: “We are receiving additional numbers of reported casualties, so this situation is very fluid. Reports indicate that as many as 60 individuals may have perished in this earthquake.”

The shallow quake struck late on Tuesday near the northern tip of Cebu, a densely populated island. The city of Bogo, home to around 90,000 people, was particularly affected.

The tremor caused widespread structural damage, collapsing buildings and tearing up roads, complicating rescue efforts.

Authorities continue to assess the full extent of the damage, while rescue teams search for survivors amid the destruction.