ASEANEWS HEADLINE-EARTHQUAKE | CEBU CITY, Philippines: Phivolcs: Aftershocks could last for weeks
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Massive 6.9 Earthquake in Philippines Now! Cebu Shook,People in Panic!
On the evening of Tuesday, September 30, 2025, a magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck off the coast of Bogo City in Cebu. Due to its shallow depth, the quake was strongly felt across Cebu, Leyte, Samar, and Negros Oriental. Historic religious structures were damaged, classes were suspended, and thousands of residents rushed into the streets in panic. Authorities have issued warnings about possible aftershocks, and fear continues to grip the region.
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MANILA, Philippines — Aftershocks from the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck Cebu on Sept. 30 could continue for weeks and possibly months, causing more destruction, seismologists warned, as the death toll rose to 72 yesterday.
As of 4 p.m. yesterday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) had recorded 3,036 aftershocks, of which 586 were plotted and 15 were felt. The tremors ranged from magnitude 1.0 to 5.0, according to the agency’s monitoring station in Medellin.
Winchelle Sevilla, chief of Phivolcs’ Seismological Observation and Earthquake Prediction Division, said the quake, which shook Bogo City and the municipalities of Bantayan, Medellin, Tabuelan and San Remigio at Intensity 7, was considered “very strong” and capable of generating destructive ground shaking.
“Based on such a strong earthquake, usually aftershocks can be felt for weeks or for months. But as time goes by, the aftershocks will weaken. But it is still possible that even if it has been a long time, [or] months, there is still a possibility that there are stronger aftershocks that our countrymen can feel,” Sevilla said in an interview.
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According to authorities, the death toll from the quake reached 72, with fatalities recorded in the following areas: 30 in Bogo City, 22 in San Remigio, 12 in Medellin, five in Tabogon, and one each in the towns of Sogod, Tabuelan and Borbon.
The tremor also left hundreds injured and caused widespread damage to government buildings, schools and private establishments across northern Cebu. Search, rescue and relief operations remain ongoing as officials work to assist affected families and account for missing persons.
Sevilla explained that the quake was triggered by movement along an offshore fault that had not been previously mapped. He noted that historical records show no destructive earthquakes in the epicentral area over the last 400 years.
“If we look at our earthquake catalog, there has been no record of such a strong tremor in this area for at least 400 years,” said Sevilla. “The offshore fault has produced weak quakes before, but usually not strong enough to be felt. The Sept. 30 event near Bogo City was triggered by movement along this fault, which we will now study further through a quick response investigation.”
The seismologist reminded the public to remain alert, avoid damaged buildings, and stay in open areas during tremors. “To our countrymen who are affected or who are near the epicenter, we should always be prepared because the aftershocks are still ongoing in the area. Most of the aftershocks are weak, but it is possible that some of them will be strong enough for us to feel,” he stressed.
Search ops halted
With all affected persons now accounted for, the Office of Civil Defense said search and rescue operations are now being halted.
The earthquake affected a total of 47,221 families or 170,959 persons with 4,000 families or 20,000 displaced who are yet to return to their homes for fear of more aftershocks. The NDRRMC has yet to release estimated costs of damage but reported that at least 597 houses and 87 infrastructure were damaged in Central Visayas.
OCD spokesman Junie Castillo said debris clearing and humanitarian assistance operations continue in affected areas especially in Bogo City.
The Philippine Air Force (PAF) said it has swiftly mobilized its Search, Rescue, and Retrieval (SRR) team and air assets to aid affected communities in northern Cebu.
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To further support humanitarian efforts, the PAF said a C-130 aircraft transported critical relief supplies from Colonel Jesus Villamor Air Base in Pasay City to Brigadier General Benito Ebuen Air Base in Lapu-Lapu City.
The cargo included 812 evacuation kits, assorted SSR equipment and 170 boxes of medical supplies.
Damaged schools
Education Secretary Sonny Angara on Thursday said at least 1,187 schools in Cebu were totally damaged by the earthquake, affecting more than 19,000 learners.
Angara accompanied President Marcos in Bogo to determine the extent of devastation.
He said as of 11 p.m. on Oct. 1, the DepEd also recorded 5,587 classrooms with minor damage and 803 classrooms with major damage. According to Angara, 950 teaching and non-teaching personnel were also affected by the tremor.
Angara and Marcos assessed the City of Bogo Science and Arts Academy, one of the hardest-hit campuses, where at least three buildings were not declared safe for occupancy.
“Amid the tragedy, we need to be more proactive in giving aid so that the education of students will not be disrupted. While schools are being repaired, we will promptly deliver alternative means of education to serve as guide, direction and hope,” Angara said.
He said subject to further validation by field offices, a vetted list will then be endorsed for joint DepEd-DPWH validation to determine costs.
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Angara added that the reconstruction funds will be downloaded immediately. He distributed nearly 90 EduKahon teaching and learning recovery kits.
Angara also assured parents and teachers that education will continue after immediate emergency measures are addressed, stressing that DepEd will rely primarily on modular learning, the most practical mode for communities with damaged classrooms or limited connectivity.
PNP: No reported looting, violence
Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP) yesterday said the situation in Cebu remains peaceful two days after the quake, as there has been no documented report of gender-based violence and looting in the province.
Brig. Gen. Antonio Marallag, PNP Directorate for Police Community Relations deputy director, attributed the peaceful atmosphere in Cebu to the deployment of police officers in strategic areas in the province to maintain peace and order.
“No recorded looting so the regional director ordering maximum police visibility in affected areas,” Marallag said.
In a news briefing, PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Randulf Tuaño said search operations were stopped on Wednesday night as all of the injured and the missing have been accounted for. Data from the PNP showed 471 persons were rescued by police units in Cebu.
The PNP is pouring more manpower and resources to Cebu. From over 1,300 PNP personnel, at least 2,250 police officers were deployed to Cebu as of yesterday.
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Acting PNP chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. commended the swift response of the police that ensured the safety of people particularly at the Cebu Provincial Hospital and other medical facilities.
Apart from units involved in search, rescue and retrieval operations, the PNP also included a 25-man medical and dental team from the Health Service to help LGUs treat the injured.
Airlines told: Give free flights
The government has instructed airlines to provide free flights for cargo relief directed to Cebu in support of efforts to help the province recover.
In an advisory, the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) ordered local carriers to give free transport of relief goods to areas affected by the earthquake that shook Cebu.
The advisory, issued on Wednesday, will be in effect for 30 days, unless sooner lifted. CAB said it may extend the order if deemed necessary.
Acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez said domestic carriers Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines and AirAsia Philippines have committed to comply with the order.
Tourist sites destroyed
Composite handout photographs show a destroyed church in Daanbantayan, Cebu province (left) and the cross of a church at Bantayan Island falling after a 6.9-magnitude earthquake./ AFP/Vince Sylvan A. Toring; AFP/Martham Pacilan
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The magnitude 6.9 earthquake that shook the northern part of Cebu province caused damage to tourist sites and facilities, and displaced both tourists and tourism workers, the Department of Tourism (DOT) reported.
A total of 80 tourism establishments, 21 tourist sites, 36 accommodation establishments, and 23 other tourism infrastructure were damaged by the earthquake, according to a report from the DOT’s Central Visayas regional office. Also damaged were the Tourist Rest Areas in the municipalities of Medellin and Carmen, considered as flagship projects of the DOT under Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco.
The DOT added that land access to Bogo City, Tabuelan, Medellin and San Remigio also became limited as “several roads and bridges were reported to be impassable.”
Meanwhile, the agency reported 15 tourists – one in Bogo City, eight in San Remigio, and six in Santa Fe – were also left stranded following the earthquake. Eight of the 15 tourists were reportedly on the way to Cebu City, while the foreign guest remained in Bogo City and would be transferred to another accommodation within the area, it noted.
In addition, six other guests from Bantayan “opted to extend their stay until the resumption of ferry operations.”
The earthquake also brought loss of jobs to 711 tourism workers within the region, including staff from hotels, resorts, restaurants, travel agencies, transport services and related enterprises.
Coast Guard ops
Even if Storm Paolo will trigger heavy rains and winds in Cebu, Coast Guard ships responders sent to assist in the earthquake affected areas will remain on the ground, according to Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan.
“We have always experienced a crisis in weather. If there is a storm, our ships will take shelter but our first responders on the ground will stay. We are prepared. We were able to procure equipment that we could use to alleviate, to address the inconvenience brought about by the bad weather,” Gavan said.
Aside from four 44-footer multi-role response vessels, the 97-meter BRP Teresa Magbanua carrying 1,000 ready-to-eat food packs from the Department of Social Welfare and Development and two water desalinators has already arrived in Cebu.
At 3 p.m. yesterday, their second 97-meter BRP Gabriela Silang would also sail to Cebu. It is loaded with 5,000 food packs and evacuation kits and is expected to arrive today.
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From Manila, the PCG has so far sent four doctors, 10 nurses and 22 medical staff, and communication specialists to help the local governments disseminate information to the public. They also sent 10 K9 Teams to help search collapsed infrastructure.
Telco support
Leading telco Globe Telecom said it was ramping up its emergency response efforts following the quake in Cebu.
Globe said it was working closely with local authorities and partner organizations to deliver relief and connectivity support. Ongoing relief operations with Ayala Foundation Inc. have reached 3,165 families in Cebu, including 1,805 in Bogo and 1,360 in San Remigio.
Globe services were impacted in 15 provinces across the Visayas. While the telco said it has so far fully restored connectivity services in the provinces of Aklan, Antique, Biliran, Bohol, Capiz and Iloilo, work continues in other affected areas.
The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) yesterday said family tents are on standby for immediate deployment to provide safe and temporary shelter for affected households following the powerful earthquake that struck Northern Cebu Tuesday night.
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PRC chairman Richard Gordon mobilized PRC assets from warehouses in Manila, Cebu and Subic, including prepositioned medical and family tents, food supplies, and emergency equipment ready for rapid dispatch to the hardest-hit communities. – Bella Cariaso, Emmanuel Tupas, Michael Punongbayan, Elijah Felice Rosales, Ghio Ong, Rainier Allan Ronda, Evelyn Macairan, Rhodina Villanueva
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