The death toll from a powerful earthquake that struck the Philippines has risen to 69. The quake, which hit the central regions of the country, was recorded at 6.9 on the Richter scale. Relevant authorities are working to rescue people trapped under collapsed buildings and homes, as well as to restore electricity and water services to affected areas. Philippine authorities said the earthquake’s epicenter was off the coast of Bogo City in the northern part of Cebu Province. Raffyffy Alejandro, a senior official from the country’s civil defense agency, said hospitals in the area are working to treat those injured in the quake. He also mentioned that hospitals are at full capacity.
The country’s civil defense agency has confirmed that the death toll has risen to 69. An official from the agency also stated that about 150 more people have been injured. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said that the government will provide assistance to those affected by the earthquake. He also mentioned that some cabinet ministers are already active in the affected area to coordinate aid efforts. Cebu, popular among tourists, is home to a population of 3.4 million people. Although many islands in the area suffered significant damage from the earthquake, services at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport in the region have not been suspended.
Among the areas most severely affected by the earthquake is San Remigio in Cebu. The town’s vice mayor, Alfie Raines, has stated that the town has run out of food and clean drinking water. He has called for food and water to be provided to those who have lost their homes in the earthquake. He the earthquake. He also noted that additional assistance is needed in rescuing people believed to be trapped under collapsed buildings. “The area is experiencing heavy rainfall, there’s no electricity, so we need a lot of help, especially in the northern areas where the water system has been damaged by the earthquake and clean drinking water has run out,” he said. Raines also mentioned that among the dead in the town were many people who were playing in a basketball court at the time of the earthquake. A large part of the building housing the basketball court has collapsed in the quake.
The Philippines is a country located in the area known as the “Ring of Fire,” which is home to many volcanoes. Many of these volcanoes are ‘active’ or frequently erupting. It is also an area prone to frequent earthquakes. Two earthquakes also hit the region in January of this year. However, no lives were endangered in those incidents. In 2023, an earthquake measuring 6.7 on the Richter scale resulted in eight deaths.
