Weeks of aftershocks expected as Cebu quake toll climbs to 72

National

NORTHERN Cebu is still shaking—literally—as thousands of aftershocks rattle communities days after a magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck, killing at least 72 people and displacing tens of thousands.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said that as of 4 p.m. Thursday, 3,036 aftershocks had been recorded, with 586 plotted and 15 felt, ranging from magnitude 1.0 to 5.0. Seismologists said the tremors are expected to continue for weeks and possibly months, though they are likely to weaken over time.

The quake was strongest in Bogo City and the municipalities of Bantayan, Medellin, Tabuelan and San Remigio, where it was measured at Intensity 7.

Winchelle Sevilla, chief of Phivolcs’ Seismological Observation and Earthquake Prediction Division, said the tremor was triggered by movement along an unmapped offshore fault, the first of such strength recorded in the area in 400 years. “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 a Philstar report.

Authorities reported 30 fatalities in Bogo City, 22 in San Remigio, 12 in Medellin, five in Tabogon, and one each in Sogod, Tabuelan and Borbon. Search and rescue operations have ended with all victims accounted for, but debris clearing and relief distribution continue.

The quake affected 47,221 families, displacing 20,000 who remain in evacuation centers. At least 597 homes and 87 public infrastructure were damaged across Central Visayas, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

The Office of Civil Defense said humanitarian work is now the priority. The Philippine Air Force deployed a Search, Rescue, and Retrieval team and transported evacuation kits, medical supplies and equipment via C-130 aircraft.

The Philippine Coast Guard delivered food packs, water desalinators and evacuation kits using its largest vessels, while deploying medical teams and K9 units. Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan said responders will remain on the ground even as stormy weather approaches.

To speed up aid, the Civil Aeronautics Board ordered local airlines to transport relief cargo free of charge for 30 days. Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines and AirAsia Philippines pledged to comply.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara reported that 1,187 schools and nearly 6,400 classrooms were damaged, affecting more than 19,000 students and 950 personnel.

Some campuses, including the City of Bogo Science and Arts Academy, were declared unsafe.

“Amid the tragedy, we need to be more proactive in giving aid so that the education of students will not be disrupted,” Angara said in the same report, adding that modular learning will be used while repairs are underway.

The Department of Tourism said 80 establishments, 21 tourist sites and 36 accommodation facilities were damaged, while 711 tourism workers lost their jobs. Road access to several municipalities was blocked by impassable bridges and highways, and 15 tourists were stranded.(MyTVCebu)