Philippines Earthquake, Death toll Rises to 60

At least 60 people have been confirmed dead and nearly 150 others injured after a powerful magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck off the coast of Cebu Island on Tuesday night, according to updated figures released by the Philippines’ Office of Civil Defence. The earthquake, recorded at 9:59 pm local time (13:59 GMT), hit near Bogo, a city of about 90,000 residents. The tremor was followed by four aftershocks of magnitude 5 or higher.

Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro has declared a “state of calamity” in affected areas, warning that the destruction may be “worse than we think.”The earthquake triggered power outages, damaged homes, and partially collapsed at least one hospital. Provincial authorities have appealed for medical volunteers and deployed emergency teams to assist the injured.

The Philippines is quite earthquake prone as it lies on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a geologically active zone where several tectonic plates meet. This makes the country one of the most seismically active regions in the world, experiencing dozens of felt quakes each year, ranging from mild tremors to destructive earthquakes.

This is at least the fourth significant earthquake to strike the Philippines in 2025. Earlier quakes rattled Mindoro and parts of Mindanao, though with limited casualties. The last major quake to cause human loss before Cebu was in May 2025, when a magnitude 6.2 tremor in Davao del Sur killed 7 people and injured dozens.Rescue operations in Cebu are continued, with authorities bracing for more aftershocks and possible rises in the death toll.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday offered condolences to the bereaved families and underscored that India stands in solidarity with the Philippines and offered prayers to the bereaved families.