At least 69 people have been killed and dozens injured after a powerful 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck the central Philippines late on Tuesday. The province of Cebu, which suffered the brunt of the damage, declared a state of calamity early on Wednesday, after thousands spent the night on the streets amid repeated aftershocks. One Cebu resident told the BBC he was among them, adding that power and water supplies were cut off. He said the voices of crying children could be heard around him, adding that they were 'traumatised'. The earthquake comes barely more than a week after the country was hit by back-to-back typhoons which killed more than 20 people.
Most of the earthquake victims were from Bogo, a small town on one of the largest islands in the Visayas Islands, the Philippines' central region - and the place closest to the earthquake's epicentre. Images coming out of Bogo show body bags lined on the street and hundreds of people being treated in tent hospitals. Officials have warned of 'a lot of damage' caused by the earthquakes. The local authorities have appealed for volunteers with medical experience.
Power lines in many places are down, making communication difficult. Seven of those who died had lived in a village built to house victims of Typhoon Haiyan, which struck the central Philippines 12 years ago. Emergency response officials reported that almost 20 people at a basketball game were sent to the hospital during the quake, with at least one confirmed death.
The earthquake's aftermath has posed significant challenges, including buckled roads and fallen bridges hindering emergency services. Amid the ongoing crisis, Cebu's archbishop has advised devotees to avoid churches pending structural assessments of these old buildings.
Unfortunately, as the National Disaster Agency begins to release official casualty figures, the death toll may rise as the damage and recovery efforts continue.
Most of the earthquake victims were from Bogo, a small town on one of the largest islands in the Visayas Islands, the Philippines' central region - and the place closest to the earthquake's epicentre. Images coming out of Bogo show body bags lined on the street and hundreds of people being treated in tent hospitals. Officials have warned of 'a lot of damage' caused by the earthquakes. The local authorities have appealed for volunteers with medical experience.
Power lines in many places are down, making communication difficult. Seven of those who died had lived in a village built to house victims of Typhoon Haiyan, which struck the central Philippines 12 years ago. Emergency response officials reported that almost 20 people at a basketball game were sent to the hospital during the quake, with at least one confirmed death.
The earthquake's aftermath has posed significant challenges, including buckled roads and fallen bridges hindering emergency services. Amid the ongoing crisis, Cebu's archbishop has advised devotees to avoid churches pending structural assessments of these old buildings.
Unfortunately, as the National Disaster Agency begins to release official casualty figures, the death toll may rise as the damage and recovery efforts continue.
