A magnitude 6.9 earthquake jolted the province of Cebu on Tuesday night, September 30.
According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), the tremor was recorded at 9:59 PM, with its epicenter located 21 kilometers northeast of Bogo City, Cebu.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) confirmed that as of the latest report, the quake claimed 26 lives, left 147 people injured, and reported no missing persons so far.
Cebu Governor Pam Baricuatro assured residents that immediate relief and assistance were mobilized not only in Bogo City, the quake’s epicenter, but also in other municipalities and cities heavily affected by the disaster.
“Help is coming,” Baricuatro vowed.
The Office of the President and the Department of Health (DOH) also confirmed the deployment of urgent aid and medical assistance to the hardest-hit areas of Cebu.