On September 30, 2025, a powerful magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck off the coast of Cebu, in the Central Visayas region of the Philippines.
Its epicenter was located approximately 21 kilometers northeast of Bogo City, at a depth of 5 kilometers. The earthquake, which occurred around 10:00 p.m. local time, was tectonic in origin and triggered more than 379 aftershocks, including a magnitude 5.2 earthquake shortly afterward.
While a widespread tsunami did not occur, alerts were issued for coastal areas of Cebu, Leyte, and Biliran due to possible sea level changes.
As of October 1, 2025, the event was designated the 2025 Cebu earthquake, highlighting the vulnerabilities of the Ring of Fire, a seismically active area.
The earthquake caused significant human losses and widespread structural damage, especially in the northern province of Cebu, with repercussions in nearby areas such as Leyte. Economic disruptions included power grid outages and disruption of local operations.
69 deaths were confirmed, mainly in Cebu: 30 in Bogo City, 22 in San Remigio, 12 in Medellín, 1 in Tabuelan, 1 in Sogod, and 1 in Tabogon.
Among the victims were emergency personnel and civilians, including a 10-year-old boy trapped in the rubble. Injured: At least 154 people were injured, many of whom received medical treatment for injuries caused by the collapse of structures overnight.
Multiple collapses occurred, including at the Archdiocesan Shrine of St. Rose of Lima in Daanbantayan, the San Remigio Sports Complex (where a basketball game was taking place, trapping players and a referee), three structures on Bantayan Island, and a McDonald’s restaurant in Bogo.
Churches in Bantayan and Tabuelan also suffered severe damage. A fire broke out in a shopping mall in Consolacion.
Six bridges were damaged, including one in San Remigio; roads in Bogo and Tabuelan were impassable; a landslide in Villaba, Leyte, blocked a main road.
Power outages affected Iloilo City and parts of Cebu, with the disruption of four 230 kV transmission lines and damage to the Daanbantayan substation, triggering a yellow alert for the Visayas power grid.
Three government buildings were affected, causing operational disruptions. Initial estimates suggest millions in repair costs, although full economic assessments are pending.
The shallow earthquake amplified the quake, exacerbating the damage in densely populated coastal areas. The immediate aftermath included widespread panic, with residents reporting intense shaking that lasted for more than a minute, prompting evacuations to open fields.
Hundreds of families were displaced due to the insecurity of their homes and buildings, although the exact number is still being assessed. Relief efforts focused on providing shelter, food, and medical assistance, and the Philippine Coast Guard deployed a boat equipped with emergency equipment.
Search and rescue operations continued until October 1, with teams from the Cebu South Medical Center, Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (which activated a trauma team), and the Bureau of Fire Protection participating. Dogs and specialized personnel were mobilized to locate survivors under the rubble.
On October 1, classes were suspended in Cebu City and several municipalities (e.g., Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu, Talisay) for safety inspections. Government offices in Iloilo and Bohol were closed for structural inspections, except for emergency response units. Communication outages in northern Cebu hampered coordination.
Community accounts described chaos, with call center workers and families hiding under tables or fleeing their homes amid exploding transformers and collapsing walls.
Authorities have emphasized resilience in the face of frequent seismic activity in the Philippines, but the event highlights deficiencies in rural infrastructure preparedness.
Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro called for calm, urging the population to avoid damaged structures and remain alert for aftershocks, while coordinating provincial assessments.
Cebu province declared a state of calamity to expedite aid delivery, and San Remigio plans to follow suit. The Archdiocese of Cebu ordered priests to suspend Masses in affected churches until the situation is certified safe.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) reiterated warnings of further tremors and recommended coastal evacuations. Major lessons have yet to be learned, given the recent nature of the event, but experts point to the need to modernize old buildings and improve early warning systems, drawing on past events such as the 2013 Bohol earthquake. Offers of international aid from the U.S. and Japan are being considered, and recovery is expected to take weeks.
As of October 1, rescue efforts continue, and the death toll could rise with ongoing searches.
