At least 19 dead as powerful earthquake hits central Philippines

At least 19 people have been killed and dozens more injured after a strong earthquake struck Cebu province in the central Philippines late on Tuesday, according to local authorities.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said the quake, which hit at 9.59 p.m. local time, was initially measured at magnitude 6.7 but later upgraded to 6.9. The tremor’s epicentre was located around 19 kilometres northeast of Bogo City at a shallow depth of five kilometres.

Provincial officials confirmed that 13 fatalities occurred in Bogo City, while four people died in San Remigio town in northern Cebu. One death was reported in Medellin municipality, where several injuries and damage to two bridges were also recorded.

Local newspaper SunStar Cebu reported that Cebu Provincial Hospital in Bogo was overwhelmed as victims continued to arrive through the night.

Rescue operations were ongoing on Wednesday, with officials warning that the death toll could rise as more reports come in from affected areas. Several village roads were also damaged, complicating relief efforts.

The quake was felt widely across neighbouring provinces in the central Philippines and in some parts of the south. Power outages were reported across Cebu and nearby islands after transmission lines tripped, but the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines said electricity was restored in Cebu and four other central islands shortly after midnight.

The Philippines is part of the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” an area highly prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions due to frequent seismic activity.

With IANS Inputs