The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS-DOST) reported 119 aftershocks as of 5:30am on Wednesday, October 1, following the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck Bogo City, Cebu, at 9:59pm on Tuesday, September 30.
Sixteen of these tremors measured above magnitude 3.5.
The Capitol Information Office reported that the quake initially killed 19 people—13 in Bogo City, including four minors, one senior citizen in Tabuelan, and five in San Remigio.
Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro announced that she will visit Bogo City today with provincial officials to assess the situation.
She directed the delivery of relief goods and medicines prepared in Danao to Bogo once roads become passable.
Baricuatro added that the Office of the President pledged immediate aid, while the Department of Health (DOH) mobilized a trauma team.
The Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center deployed medical personnel to Bogo, while the province urged more medical volunteers to respond to residents in need.
The quake caused heavy damage in Daanbantayan, Medellin, San Remigio, and Bogo City. In Daanbantayan, the Archdiocesan Shrine of Santa Rosa de Lima, a century-old heritage church, sustained severe damage, according to GMA Regional TV.
The local government of San Remigio declared a state of calamity because of widespread destruction. Mayor Mariano Martinez and Vice Mayor Alphonsine Corominas-Gonzales signed an advisory to mobilize resources, deliver assistance, and implement measures to prevent further harm.
In Medellin, officials confirmed one fatality and reported multiple injured residents now under the care of the local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.
Meanwhile, in Negros Occidental, several local chief executives (LCEs) suspended classes and suggested schools to shift to alternative learning modes while inspection teams check classrooms and buildings for possible cracks that could endanger the lives of their teachers, staff, and students.*
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, contributes to Negros Daily Bulletin, and maintains a blog on Medium.