Philippines earthquake kills at least 26, damages buildings in Cebu
A powerful 6.9-magnitude quake struck Cebu, Philippines, on 30 Sept 2025, killing 26 and injuring 147, officials said. Buildings collapsed in Bogo and San Remigio, with over 379 aftershocks reported. Dramatic footage showed a church belfry fall and a bridge swaying, as rescuers worked overnight amid power outages.
- A 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck Cebu, Philippines, on 30 September 2025.
- The death toll has risen to 26, with 147 others injured, according to NDRRMC.
- Aftershocks continue, raising concerns for further damage.
- Rescue and relief operations are ongoing as families face displacement.
- Authorities are conducting damage assessments and safety checks across affected areas.
A powerful 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck the central Philippines on 30 September 2025, collapsing buildings and killing at least 26 people on the island of Cebu, officials confirmed.
The quake, which hit at 9.59 pm local time at a shallow depth off the northern coast near Bogo City, was recorded by the US Geological Survey (USGS), according to reports from France 24 with AFP.
Rising Death Toll and Injuries
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported 26 deaths, 147 injuries, and damage to 22 buildings as of 1 October 2025, though officials warned the toll could rise as rescuers searched for survivors.
Fatalities were reported in Bogo and the nearby town of San Remigio.
Dramatic videos circulating on social media captured the moment an old Catholic church on Bantayan Island shook violently before its belfry collapsed, while local television showed a Cebu bridge swaying so intensely that motorcyclists were forced to dismount and cling to railings.
Rescue Efforts and Aftershocks
Rescue operations continued overnight on 30 September and into 1 October, despite power outages, aftershocks, and darkness.
Authorities recorded 379 aftershocks, further complicating recovery efforts.
"There could be people trapped beneath collapsed buildings," provincial rescue official Wilson Ramos told AFP, noting ongoing operations in Bogo and San Remigio.
Cebu’s provincial government issued an urgent call for medical volunteers on its official Facebook page, while the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines confirmed that power was restored in Cebu and four neighboring islands shortly after midnight on 1 October.
Among the structures reported damaged were a commercial building and a school in Bantayan, as well as a fast-food restaurant in Bogo.
No Tsunami Threat
The USGS initially reported the quake at magnitude 7.0 before revising it to 6.9, while the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center confirmed there was no tsunami threat.
Earthquakes are frequent in the Philippines, which lies along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a major zone of seismic and volcanic activity stretching across Asia and the Pacific.
