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.
That spinning feeling, coupled with a string of aftershocks, has left the 35-year-old tourism officer and many other survivors too scared to return to their homes, forcing them to live in tents temporarily.
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.
I still couldn't process what has happened to us, Ms. Estalicas tells the BBC. I am overwhelmed with the things we experienced in the last two days.
The 35-year-old lives in Medellin town, near the quake's epicentre. Disaster response officials say the earthquake displaced nearly 80,000 people across Cebu and nearby provinces. Cebu is a major trading and transportation hub in the central Philippines.
She said she got out of bed screaming when the earthquake struck and ran outdoors with her family. They slept under the open sky, but when a light drizzle fell, they wrapped themselves up in plastic bags because they did not have raincoats.
Photos shared on social media showed them slouched on plastic chairs, swathed in plastic bags fogged up by their breath.
About 10 km away, in San Remigio municipality, Lourenze Pareja also spent the night outdoors during the earthquake. There, under the night sky, we sat freely - in great faith - with our little lights, holding on to what resources we had, he wrote on Facebook. Pray for us, everyone.
When the ground started shaking, Mr. Pareja said he grabbed his phone and ran to the street to livestream the unfolding chaos with neighbors in pajamas leaving their homes, carrying children and pets. What was once a vibrant city has turned into a ghost town, he lamented.
The Philippines is vulnerable to natural disasters due to its location on the geological 'Ring of Fire,' known for frequent earthquakes and volcanoes. This earthquake is among the strongest and deadliest in recent years. Rescuers continue to search through rubble while authorities work to deliver food, restore power, and clear roads.
However, daily necessities remain critically lacking. Some residents, like photographer Doods Demape, are driving long distances to replenish supplies, facing challenges at swamped petrol stations.
Despite these struggles, survivors like Ms. Estalicas and Mr. Pareja hold onto hope and practice bayanihan—the Filipino tradition of community support—as they await assistance and strive to rebuild their lives.
