The death toll from a 6.9-magnitude earthquake in the central Philippines has risen to 70, with more than 140 injured.
According to the World News Agency, bodies are still being found during rescue operations, which is why there is a fear of further increase in the death toll.
A state of emergency has been declared in the hardest-hit province of Cebu, with the highest death toll in the city of Bogo at 20.
There have also been deaths in nearby areas of Medellin, Tabuelan and San Remigio. Seven people, including fire department and coast guard personnel, died when the roof of a sports complex and evacuation center collapsed in San Remigio.
The earthquake also damaged historical heritage. The Saints Peter and Paul Church and the 139-year-old Danbantayan Church were completely destroyed.
Dozens of residential buildings were also reduced to rubble. Hospitals are overflowing with patients. Scenes of destruction are everywhere. Dozens of people are still buried under the rubble.
The power system was also disrupted. Ambulances were seen blaring sirens in Bogo, Cebu.
“It’s raining continuously, there’s no power and there’s a severe water shortage. We need help immediately,” said Alfie Raines, vice mayor of San Remigio.
The quake struck at 9:59 p.m. local time, with its epicenter 12 miles northeast of Bogo City, Cebu province.
The depth of the quake was only 10 kilometers, which experts call a shallow earthquake, which is why the loss of life and property was high.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) initially issued a tsunami warning, but the warning was lifted on Wednesday morning.
The Philippines is located in the world’s most dangerous region, the “Pacific Ring of Fire,” where small and large earthquakes occur daily. This region is also a center of volcanic activity.
In collaboration with the government and the United Nations, the local population is educated and trained to deal with natural disasters.
However, this earthquake once again highlighted the weakness in the country’s emergency response and its helplessness in the face of natural disasters.