Cebu under state of calamity after M6.9 quake kills 32, injures 147

Cebu province has been placed under a state of calamity following a magnitude 6.9 earthquake that caused widespread destruction, claiming at least 32 lives and injuring 147 individuals.

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan officially declared the state of calamity via Executive Order No. 57 and a resolution passed by the Provincial Board, allowing for the swift release of emergency funds and expedited relief operations.

Several municipalities, including San Remigio and Bogo City, had already declared their own states of calamity prior to the provincial declaration.

The earthquake, which occurred on Monday night, resulted in significant infrastructure damage, particularly in Bogo City, which was heavily impacted.

Cebu provincial governor Pamela Baricuatro reported that the Cebu provincial hospital in Bogo recorded 25 deaths from the city alone.

Rescuers tallied six more deaths elsewhere in the province, and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council listed 147 injured across the central islands, where 22 buildings were damaged.

Dramatic footage filmed by residents showed an old Catholic church on Bantayan island near Cebu swaying wildly shortly before its belfry tumbled into the courtyard.