Death Toll Rises to 72 in Central Philippines Earthquake

A 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck the central region of the Philippines, causing the death toll to rise to 72, according to the country’s Civil Defence agency. Rescue operations are ongoing amid the rubble.

As of Thursday, 2 October, Civil Defence reported 294 additional injuries resulting from the quake.

Compared with Wednesday’s figures, the number of fatalities has increased by three, all occurring in the Central Visayas region.

The shallow earthquake struck the coastal areas of Cebu Island during the night. The tremor caused extensive damage to:

The earthquake in Cebu is the deadliest in the central Philippines since 2013, when a 7.2-magnitude quake hit the neighbouring Bohol Island, killing at least 222 people.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. assured rapid aid for those affected.

• Cabinet members are personally overseeing relief operations.
• Emergency assistance is being prioritised for the hardest-hit areas.

According to Reuters, Cebu, one of the Philippines’ major tourist hubs, is home to approximately 3.4 million residents. Among the worst-hit locations is San Remigio, where a state of emergency has been declared.

Challenges reported by city officials:

Assistant Mayor Alfi Reines stated that the quake has left many residents in severe distress, calling for immediate humanitarian support.

Local media videos show people fleeing buildings as structures collapse, including a century-old church. Reines confirmed that some of the victims were playing basketball in a sports complex in San Remigio, which partially collapsed during the earthquake.

The Philippines lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire, making it prone to frequent seismic activity. On average, the country experiences over 800 earthquakes annually.