Metro Manila, Philippines – The death toll from the powerful Cebu earthquake has reached 69 as authorities continue to conduct search and rescue missions on Wednesday, Oct. 1.
The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said the count was as of 12 p.m. on Wednesday.
In its briefing, the OCD said casualties from the deadly quake were mostly from Bogo City, San Remigio, and Medellin.
Among the fatalities were three personnel of the Philippine Coast Guard and one fireman, pinned under the rubble of the San Remigio Sports Complex.
OCD Assistant Secretary Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV said debris from structures killed a number of victims.
“We have been receiving reports na meron pang mga na-trap [there were people still trapped],” Alejandro said, adding that the regional office has yet to provide a rapid assessment.
“We’re still in the golden hour that we can still save more lives,” Alejandro said.
The magnitude 6.9 tremor struck waters 19 kilometers off Bogo City at 9:59 p.m. on Tuesday. It had a depth of five kilometers.
Experts recorded an Intensity VII in Bogo, Daantabayan, Medellin, San Remigio, and Tabuelan.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. extended condolences to families who have lost their loved ones, and assured national government agencies are augmenting local efforts.
Alejandro said authorities have facilitated the safe transfer of patients from the overwhelmed district hospital of Bogo to nearby medical facilities.
As of midday Wednesday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said there were at least 147 injured people.
