From BBC

Summary

• At least 69 people have been killed in a 6.9 magnitude earthquake in the central Philippines, officials say
• Cebu province has declared a state of calamity after the earthquake struck at around 22:00 local time (14:00 GMT) on Tuesday – “Bang! It was as if the Earth stopped spinning,” one resident says
• Before and after images show the extent of the damage, with cracked bridges and roads as well as destroyed buildings – another video from Cebu shows people clinging to each other as the quake begins
• Rescuers are sifting through rubble for survivors as authorities rush to deliver aid and restore electricity and communication lines
• The Philippines is very vulnerable to natural disasters and lies on the geologically unstable “ring of fire”, our correspondent Jonathan Head writes
• The earthquake comes a week after back-to-back typhoonskilled over a dozen people and an unusually wet monsoon season caused widespread flooding, stoking public anger

At least seven dead in village built for typhoon Haiyan victims

At least seven people, including a pregnant woman, have died in Yolanda Village in Bogo. This is a housing project built for the victims of the catastrophic 2013 Typhoon Haiyan, known in the Philippines as Yolanda.

The storm killed more than 6,000 people in the Philippines and caused widespread damage. 

Hundreds of aftershocks rattle Cebu

Hundreds of aftershocks have jolted Cebu since the deadly earthquake struck last night.

At least 225 such tremors had been recorded as of 09:19 today (01:19 GMT), with most of them hitting Bogo City, according to Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.

President Marcos issues statement

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has put out a statement urging people to remain alert and cooperate with local authorities. Marcos says authorities are working to restore electricity and more staff are being deployed to local hospitals.

“My heart goes out to the families who lost loved ones, and my prayers are with the injured and all those affected by the earthquake,” he said.

We panicked and immediately went outside’

Virma Simonette
Reporting from Manila

Doods Demape, a photographer in the town of Medellin, said that power and water supplies were cut off last night as the earthquake hit Cebu. 

“Our house was like dancing last night. We panicked and immediately went outside,” he told the BBC. 

“Children were traumatised. They kept on crying,”

Medellin residents slept out on the streets last night, as advised by their local authorities. 

Several bridges and streets in the town are now inaccessible, Demape said.

‘I saw our house shaking’ – Cebu local

We are hearing from Cebu locals who witnessed last night’s earthquake. Archel Coraza recalls how the ground shook violently. He lives in the island town of Pilar, which is closer to the epicentre compared to the rest of the province.

“I was on the street in front of our home. When the earthquake struck, I saw our house shaking and I got dizzy. The streets also shook,” he tells Manila radio station DZMM.

“My brother was on a hammock and he couldn’t believe that there was an earthquake until he got off the hammock and stood up,” he says.

“We all moved out of our house and are now staying on the street.”

“Now, we are taking turns keeping watch on the waves.”

1. Cebu declares state of calamityCebu’s government has now declared that the entire province is under a state of calamity.Classes have been suspended throughout the province.Share
2. More quake-hit areas declare state of calamityMore towns and cities have now declared a state of calamity. Among them are Bogo, San Remigio, Tabuelan and Medellin. All four areas have reported deaths from the earthquake.Telecommunications have also gone down in Bogo, San Remigio, and Daanbantayan. Share
3. City of Bogo declares state of calamityBogo, the city about 17km from the earthquake’s epicentre, has also declared a state of calamity. Bogo has so far seen the highest toll, with 19 deaths and 119 people injured. As we reported earlier, 26 people have been killed across the country, according to the national disaster agency.Share
4. Municipality of San Remigio declares state of calamityVirma Simonette
   Reporting from ManilaThe municipality of San Remigio has declared a state of calamity, with search and rescue operations ongoing in a sports complex where several people have been trapped by debris. A basketball game was ongoing when the earthquake struck, an emergency response official told the BBC. Almost 20 people at the game were sent to the hospital, while at least one has died.IMAGE SOURCE, GETTY IMAGESImage caption, Rescuers inspect damage at the sports complex

Archbishop of Cebu tells devotees to avoid churches pending structural assessment

Cebu’s archbishop has ordered a structural assessment for all churches and rectories.

Rev Alberto S Uy has also asked parisioners in the north of the province to refrain from using their churches for mass until proper assessments have been conducted and the premises declared safe for use.

Cebu was one of the first islands in the Philippines to be colonised by Spain in the 1500s, and houses many old churches – which makes this call for people to stay away quite significant.

“We continue to pray to our Loving Father for calmness and strength in the midst of these trials,” Rev Uy said in a statement.

“May the Lord shelter us under His wings, protect us from every harm, and guide us to safety and peace.”

1. Patients treated outside hospital due to aftershocksHere’s a look at the situation outside a hospital in the city of Bogo this morning. Those seeking treatment after the quake as well as other patients are being treated outside the building as aftershocks are still happening.The epicentre of the earthquake was about 17km (10.6 mi) northeast of Bogo. IMAGE SOURCE, PTV CEBUImage caption, A injured man getting support from two paramedicsIMAGE SOURCE, PTV CEBUImage caption, Patients are being treated outside as aftershocks are still happeningIMAGE SOURCE, PTV CEBUImage caption, People crowding outside the buildingIMAGE SOURCE, GETTY IMAGESImage caption, Meanwhile rescuers inspect the damage in San Remigio, a town about 15km from BogoShare
2. Cebu governor arrives in BogoCebu provincial governor Pamela Baricuatro has arrived in the coastal city of Bogo and will lead the setting up of an operations centre for relief and emergency efforts. The centre will provide food, medicine, and equipment for Bogo and its neighboring towns affected by the 6.7 magnitude earthquake that hit last night, Cebu’s provincial officials said on its Facebook page. IMAGE SOURCE, CEBU PROVINCE FACEBOOKShare
3. A closer look at where the quake hitThis infographic shows you where Tuesday night’s earthquake hit, in the northern tip of Cebu island in central Philippines.IMAGE SOURCE, PHILIPPINE INSTITUTE OF VOLCANOLOGY AND SEISMOLOGY

1. Where did the earthquake strike?The earthquake hit the northern tip of Cebu island in the central Philippines, a region also known as the Visayas islands.
2. It struck north-east of the coastal city of Bogo, around two hours by car from the provincial capital, also called
3. Cebu.Cebu is the economic and political center of the Visayas, home to an international airport and its sea ports connect carto and commuters to country’s main islands.
4. Like most of the Visayas it is also home to white sand tourist beaches, diverse wildlife, and century-old Catholic churches.
5. Its residents, the Cebuanos, take pride in their own language and regional culture that is distinct from the capital, Manila.Share
6. In photos: Cebu authorities show damage caused by quakeCebu Governor’s Office has released initial photographs of damage from the earthquake last night. We expect more photos to start coming through later in the morning.IMAGE SOURCE, CEBU GOVERNOR’S OFFICE/HANDOUTIMAGE SOURCE, CEBU GOVERNOR’S OFFICE/HANDOUTIMAGE SOURCE, CEBU GOVERNOR’S OFFICE/HANDOUTIMAGE SOURCE, CEBU GOVERNOR’S OFFICE/HANDOUT

For more on this story go to: BBC