Magnitude 6.9 earthquake rocks Cebu, parts of Visayas, causing panic, destroying infrastructure

MANILA, Philippines, October 1 ------ A magnitude 6.9 earthquake shook the province of Cebu and parts of the Visayas Region on Tuesday night, causing widespread panic among residents and damaging infrastructure, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.

Phivolcs reported initially that the quake had a magnitude of 6.7 but revised it later to 6.9. The tremor took place around 9:59 p.m. some 17 kilometers (kms) northeast of City of Bogo, also in the same province, the state seismology bureau said. Tectonic in origin, the quake has a depth of 10kms, it added.

Gov. Pam Baricuatro urged residents to "remain calm and prioritize safety." "Please move to open areas, stay away from walls or structures that may collapse, and stay alert for possible aftershocks,” she said in a Facebook statement. Baricuatro said that the provincial government’s disaster and emergency teams were assessing the situation and ready to respond. “We are closely coordinating with local authorities to ensure the safety and well-being of all Cebuanos,” the governor said. She also urged netizens to share photos and videos of the quake, as well as areas that need assistance or government response.

Sustained damage

In Cebu alone, damage was reported at:

SM Consolacion due to fire;

Mambaling, a collapsed shopwise tunnel;

Daanbantayan, a collapsed church;

McDonalds at Il Corso;

Jollibee Mango Ave.;

Regional highways;

McDonalds, Bogo City, collapsed;

Lapu-Lapu Bridge, not passable.

An ammonia leak was reported at San Miguel Brewery in Mandaue City but the local government said the Bureau of Fire Protection Mandaue had contained the leak as of 11:10 p.m. Emergency teams are maintaining the area to ensure safety and prevent further hazards. San Miguel Corporation management confirmed that the situation was under control and noted that it was coordinating with Barangay Tipolo officials regarding the possible temporary relocation of nearby residents.

Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC) staff evacuated patients to the hospital’s open grounds as a precaution. Patients and personnel gathered outside while engineers conducted structural inspections to ensure the building’s safety. Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival visited the hospital to personally check on the condition of patients and staff. Shortly after the earthquake, a light rain started to shower.

Reported intensities

Phivolcs logged the following reported intensities:

- Intensity V - Argao, Cebu; City of Sipalay, Negros Occidental; City of Lapu-Lapu; City of Tacloban

- Intensity IV - San Fernando, Cebu; Bulan, Bulusan, and Casiguran, Sorsogon; City of Roxas, Capiz; City of Himamaylan, Negros Occidental; Ubay, Bohol; Lawaan, Eastern Samar; Laoang, Northern Samar; City of Catbalogan, Samar; City of Dipolog, Zamboanga del Norte

- Intensity III - City of Legazpi, Albay; City of Iriga, Camarines Sur; Donsol, Sorsogon; Tibiao, Antique

Instrumental Intensities:

- Intensity VI - City of Cebu; Villaba, Leyte

- Intensity V - Esperanza, Masbate; Argao, Asturias, Danao City, and City of Talisay, Cebu; City of Lapu Lapu; Abuyog, Carigara, and Hilongos, Leyte; Ormoc City

- Intensity IV - Bulusan, Sosrogon; City of Roxas, and Tapaz, Capiz; Moalboal, Cebu; Kawayan, Biliran; Alangalang, Leyte; Palapag, Northern Samar; Sogod, Southern Leyte; Magsaysay, Davao del Sur

A reported intensity is the traditional way of knowing the intensity based on reports by people who felt the earthquake. Instrumental intensity, on the other hand, is measured using the intensity meter that checks ground acceleration. Two consecutive aftershocks rocked Bogo City, Cebu following the magnitude 6.9 earthquake. The first aftershock which occurred at 10:24 p.m., had a magnitude of 5.0, followed by another at 10:33 p.m. with a magnitude of 5.1, according to Phivolcs.

Phivolcs issued a Tsunami Advisory Minor Sea Level Disturbance, which could affect some coastal areas in Leyte, Cebu and Biliran where residents have been asked to evacuate. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said, however, that "there was no tsunami threat from this earthquake" and "no action is required." Quakes are a near-daily occurrence in the Philippines, which is situated on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," an arc of intense seismic activity stretching from Japan through Southeast Asia and across the Pacific basin. Most are too weak to be felt by humans, but strong and destructive ones come at random, with no technology available to predict when and where they might strike.

Source: manilatimes.net