Two days after a magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck her hometown in the central Philippines, Arguel Estalicas says she still feels dizzy every time she stands up. That spinning feeling, coupled with a string of aftershocks, has left the 35-year-old tourism officer and many other survivors too scared to return to their homes, forcing them to live in tents temporarily. The earthquake shook the northern coast of Cebu, one of the country's most populous islands, on the night of September 30, jolting many out of their sleep. It killed at least 68 people and wounded more than 500 others, as homes, buildings, and churches collapsed and roads cracked.
I still couldn't process what has happened to us, Ms. Estalicas tells the BBC. I am overwhelmed with the things we experienced in the last two days. The earthquake displaced nearly 80,000 people across Cebu and nearby provinces. She recounted how she screamed and ran outdoors with her family when the tremors hit, spending that night under the open sky and using plastic bags for shelter when it started to rain.
About 10km away, Lourenze Pareja, a community journalist, also spent the night outdoors. After the earthquake, he streamed the chaos on Facebook, describing the scene as previously vibrant neighborhoods turned ghost towns. Communities like Cebu, located in the geologically unstable Ring of Fire,” are particularly vulnerable to such natural disasters. The recent quake is among the deadliest in recent years, prompting urgent disaster response efforts. The Philippines military has deployed troops to maintain order during the recovery.
Daily necessities remain a major issue, as many supermarkets were closed, and supplies like water and food are in short supply. Survivors and officials are calling for immediate assistance to address the needs of displaced families. Through all these challenges, the local spirit of bayanihan—a Filipino term for communal unity—shines as people come together to aid those in need.
I still couldn't process what has happened to us, Ms. Estalicas tells the BBC. I am overwhelmed with the things we experienced in the last two days. The earthquake displaced nearly 80,000 people across Cebu and nearby provinces. She recounted how she screamed and ran outdoors with her family when the tremors hit, spending that night under the open sky and using plastic bags for shelter when it started to rain.
About 10km away, Lourenze Pareja, a community journalist, also spent the night outdoors. After the earthquake, he streamed the chaos on Facebook, describing the scene as previously vibrant neighborhoods turned ghost towns. Communities like Cebu, located in the geologically unstable Ring of Fire,” are particularly vulnerable to such natural disasters. The recent quake is among the deadliest in recent years, prompting urgent disaster response efforts. The Philippines military has deployed troops to maintain order during the recovery.
Daily necessities remain a major issue, as many supermarkets were closed, and supplies like water and food are in short supply. Survivors and officials are calling for immediate assistance to address the needs of displaced families. Through all these challenges, the local spirit of bayanihan—a Filipino term for communal unity—shines as people come together to aid those in need.
