Devastation in the Philippines: Earthquake Leaves Communities in Crisis

Sat Oct 11 2025 15:59:08 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

A powerful magnitude 6.9 earthquake has struck Cebu, Philippines, causing significant destruction, displacing thousands, and leaving survivors struggling to cope with the aftermath.

On September 30, a magnitude 6.9 earthquake hit Cebu, the Philippines, resulting in at least 68 fatalities and over 500 injuries. Survivors like Arguel Estalicas are grappling with both physical and emotional impacts, living in temporary tents and reliant on rescue efforts as communities face shortages of food, water, and medical supplies amidst ongoing aftershocks.

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.

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.

Ms. Estalicas, a 35-year-old tourism officer, lives in Medellin town, which is near the quake's epicenter. She and many others are too scared to return to their homes, forcing them to live in tents temporarily.

The earthquake has displaced nearly 80,000 people across Cebu and nearby provinces, with survivors struggling to cope with ongoing aftershocks. Many, including Estalicas' family, spent the night outdoors during the quake, using plastic bags for shelter when it started to rain.

About 10km away in San Remigio municipality, community journalist Lourenze Pareja also spent that anxious night outside, livestreaming the chaos as his neighbors fled their homes. He described the once vibrant city of Bogo as having turned into a ghost town.

Humanitarian efforts are underway as rescuers search through rubble and authorities work to deliver food and restore essential services. Daily needs remain an urgent concern, with locals scrambling for water, food, and fuel amid the devastation.

On Thursday, local media reported body bags lined in front of makeshift hospitals, but despite the immense challenges, survivors maintain a sense of community, rooted in the Filipino spirit of bayanihan.

As the country deals with the compounded effects of the earthquake and recent flooding from back-to-back storms, the hope remains that assistance will reach all affected areas swiftly.