Magnitude 6.9 earthquake hits northern Cebu, killing dozens and displacing thousands

A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck off northern Cebu on September 30, leaving dozens dead and hundreds injured across the central Philippines.

The earthquake displaced over 366,000 people, with thousands forced into evacuation centers as aftershocks continue.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. pledged swift aid for survivors and stated that Cabinet secretaries were on the ground leading relief operations.

Authorities have since reported extensive damage across 89 cities and municipalities, including seven road sections and 11 bridges affected.

More than 5,000 houses in Region 7 sustained varying levels of damage, with thousands of others partially damaged or destroyed.

Fifty-three localities have been placed under a state of calamity, as officials scramble to restore power, clear debris from blocked roads, and assess the structural safety of thousands of homes.

Affected residents reported having little to no access to supplies, electricity, or clean water, forcing them to appeal directly to passing motorists and authorities for help.

PHIVOLCS logged an offshore fault as the cause and warned that more than a thousand aftershocks are expected, with magnitudes reaching as high as 5.

The earthquake caused power and communication interruptions in Western Visayas, Central Visayas, and Negros Island regions, but did not trigger a tsunami because its movement was side-to-side.