6.7-Magnitude Earthquake Hits Philippines, Leaves 19 Dead; Power Outages Across Cities

Manila (The Uttam Hindu): Tragedy struck the Philippines on Tuesday night when a 6.9-magnitude earthquake rocked Cebu province, leaving at least 19 people dead and dozens injured. The tremors, which occurred just before 10 p.m., caused severe structural damage, power outages, and chaos across several cities and municipalities.

Local newspaper SunStar Cebu, quoting the provincial information office, reported that 13 people died in Bogo City, the quake’s epicenter, while four others were killed in San Remigio in northern Cebu. Another death and multiple injuries were reported from Medellin municipality, where two bridges were also damaged.

Victims continue to be brought to Cebu Provincial Hospital in Bogo City, overwhelming the medical staff.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) said the earthquake struck at 9:59 p.m. local time, initially recording a magnitude of 6.7, later revised to 6.9. It occurred about 19 kilometers northeast of Bogo City at a depth of 5 kilometers. Tremors were also felt in neighboring provinces and parts of southern Philippines.

The quake damaged roads in several villages and disrupted electricity supply, plunging Cebu and nearby islands into darkness. The National Grid Corporation later announced that power was restored shortly after midnight in Cebu and four other major central islands.

The Philippines lies along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a region highly prone to earthquakes and volcanic activity.