Magnitude 6.9 earthquake jolts Cebu, leaves dozens dead
- Magnitude 6.9 quake struck off Bogo City at 9:59 p.m., upgraded from initial 6.7, according to Phivolcs
- Death toll rose to 35, with 30 in Bogo City and 5 in San Remigio, including a 10-year-old boy
- Sports complex collapsed during a basketball game, killing Coast Guard and BFP members; rescuers still searching
- Classes suspended and safety checks ordered, as Cebu faces power outages, communication cuts, and aftershock warnings
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A powerful magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck off the coast of Cebu on Tuesday night, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) confirmed. Initially recorded at magnitude 6.7, it was later upgraded.
Source: Twitter
The tectonic quake, which occurred at a shallow depth of 5 kilometers, hit 21 kilometers northeast of Bogo City at 9:59 p.m.
Authorities reported that 30 fatalities were recorded at Bogo City Hospital, with more bodies brought to the Provincial Hospital.
In San Remigio, five deaths were confirmed, including a 10-year-old boy who was trapped in the rubble in Barangay Looc.
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Police Capt. Jan Ace Elcid Layug said that among the victims were a member of the Bureau of Fire Protection and three from the Philippine Coast Guard, who were inside a sports complex when it collapsed during a basketball game.
“They were playing basketball inside the sports complex then it collapsed,” he said. Rescuers were still working to save another player and a referee trapped in the debris as of early morning.
Phivolcs cautioned residents about a possible “minor sea-level disturbance” and urged those in Leyte, Cebu, and Biliran to stay away from coastlines until the advisory is lifted.
Boat owners were also told to secure vessels and move away from shallow waters.
Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival suspended classes on Wednesday, stressing the need for structural inspections of public and private buildings.
Meanwhile, the Cebu Provincial Risk Reduction Management Office reported communication and power outages in Daanbantayan, San Remigio, and Bogo City.
Governor Pamela Baricuatro, in a Facebook live message, urged residents to “stay calm and move to open areas; keep away from walls or structures that may collapse and stay alert for aftershocks.”
News, photos, or videos that arouse the interest of netizens would often go viral on social media, due to the attention netizens give them. These viral posts appeal to the emotions of netizens, and in rare cases, this could also happen to ordinary people, making them very relatable stories for all of the ordinary people in the country as today.
In other news, VP Sara Duterte revealed in a statement that her father was found unconscious inside his ICC detention facility and later subjected to medical tests. The Vice President criticized the ICC, saying it failed to address even an “easily treatable” ingrown toenail and ignored calls for a 24-hour caregiver. She denounced the detention as unjust and inhuman, stressing it amounts to punishment without conviction. VP Sara urged the ICC to act immediately, calling for proper care and humanitarian consideration for the former president.
Still in other news, a taxi was severely damaged after a large tree fell on it inside Araneta City, Cubao, Quezon City. The incident was caused by the strong winds from Severe Tropical Storm Opong (#OpongPH). The taxi driver was reported safe and escaped without injury, despite the vehicle being crushed. Araneta City management confirmed the cause and committed to providing assistance for the driver and the vehicle's repair.
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Source: KAMI.com.gh
