BOGO CITY, Philippines (AP) – Rescuers are racing against time to find survivors trapped beneath rubble following a powerful earthquake that struck the Philippines on Tuesday night, leaving at least 72 people dead. The 6.9 magnitude temblor caused widespread damage across the Visayas region, especially in Cebu and Bohol provinces.
The earthquake, centered near Bogo City, Cebu, triggered landslides and building collapses, hindering rescue efforts. More than 600 aftershocks have been recorded sence the initial quake, complicating the search for those still missing and raising fears of further structural failures. Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology director Teresito Bacolcol warned that rain-soaked mountainsides are now highly vulnerable to land- and mudslides, exacerbating the crisis.
Initial reports indicate Cebu Provincial Hospital in bogo City sustained meaningful damage, with images showing a man resting beside bodies of earthquake victims outside the facility.schools and government offices in affected areas have been closed for safety inspections.
“This was really traumatic to people.They’ve been lashed by a storm then jolted by an earthquake,” Bacolcol said, expressing concern for the affected communities.
The Philippines is situated on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a region prone to frequent seismic activity and volcanic eruptions. The archipelago also endures approximately 20 typhoons and storms annually, making it one of the world’s most disaster-prone nations.
The Associated press’s Jim Gomez in Manila contributed to this report.