Philippines Earthquake: Death Toll Climbs to 69, Rescuers Race Against Time in Cebu
Philippines Earthquake: Death Toll Climbs to 69, Rescuers Race Against Time in Cebu
A devastating 6.9-magnitude earthquake rocked the central Philippines on Tuesday night, September 30, 2025, claiming the lives of at least 69 people and initiating a desperate race against time for search and rescue teams. The powerful tremor, which struck around 10 p.m., has trapped an unspecified number of residents in collapsed structures across Cebu province, with the coastal city of Bogo being among the hardest hit.
As of Wednesday, October 1, 2025, rescue operations are in full swing, with army troops, police, and civilian volunteers, supported by heavy equipment and sniffer dogs, conducting house-to-house searches for survivors. Officials fear the death toll, currently at 69 with approximately half reported in Bogo, is expected to rise as intermittent rain and extensive damage to bridges and roads continue to impede access to affected areas.
“We’re still in the golden hour of our search and rescue,” confirmed Office of Civil Defense Deputy Administrator Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV, highlighting numerous reports of individuals pinned under debris. The Philippine government is actively assessing the damage and evaluating the need for international assistance.
Thousands of traumatized residents spent the night in open fields and parks, refusing to return to their homes amidst frequent aftershocks and ongoing rainfall. A brief tsunami warning issued for the coastlines of Cebu, Leyte, and Biliran was later lifted. This earthquake follows closely on the heels of a tropical storm that recently battered the central region, exacerbating the already dire situation for local communities.
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