Philippines Earthquake Kills at Least 31, Topples Homes in Cebu Province

A powerful offshore earthquake struck the central Philippines late Tuesday, collapsing houses and buildings, killing at least 31 people, and injuring dozens more. The 6.9-magnitude quake sent residents fleeing into the dark after power was cut, officials said.

The quake’s epicenter was 19 kilometers (12 miles) northeast of Bogo City in Cebu province, where at least 14 people died, according to disaster officer Rex Ygot. Rescue crews were racing to reach a mountain village hit by a landslide, though unstable terrain was hampering efforts.

In nearby Medellin town, 12 people were killed when ceilings and walls caved in on homes, some as families slept. In San Remigio, five others — including three coast guard personnel, a firefighter, and a child — were crushed by collapsing walls while trying to escape a disrupted basketball game, Vice Mayor Alfie Reynes told local radio.

Dozens of houses, roads, and public buildings were damaged across northern Cebu, including a fire station and an old Catholic church. “It could be worse than we think,” Cebu Gov. Pamela Baricuatro said, warning the full extent of casualties may not be known until daylight.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology initially issued a tsunami warning for parts of Cebu, Leyte, and Biliran but lifted it after no unusual waves were detected.

The quake struck as the region was still reeling from a deadly storm last week that killed at least 27 people. The Philippines, located on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” regularly faces earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and up to 20 typhoons each year.