UN pledged support for earthquake victims as Cebu death toll rises to 72 in Philippines
By Anjali Sharma
UNITED NATIONS – UN on Thursday pledged its support to the earthquake victims in Philippines as the hospitals are overwhelmed and families are sheltering in the open after a deadly 6.9 magnitude quake hit northern Cebu in the Philippines, which killed 70 people and displaced over 20,000, according to local authorities and humanitarians on the ground.
The tremor hit off the coast of Bogo City at 9:59PM on Tuesday, 30 September, with the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology reported a shallow depth of around 10 kilometers.
The residents said the quake sent people fleeing into the streets. A tsunami warning was briefly issued and later lifted in the early hours of Wednesday.
According to media reports the death toll has risen to 72 after search and rescue operations concluded on Wednesday.
Over 200 people were injured in Bogo, Medellin, and San Remigio.
Some 111,000 people have been impacted, including 20,000 displaced, many of whom are camped outside their damaged homes or in open spaces as aftershocks continue.
UN relief coordination office, OCHA said that Philippine authorities declared a state of emergency across four municipalities, unlocking emergency funds for relief efforts.
The Government has also mobilized response teams and set up a joint operations centre.
Initial reports indicated widespread damage to homes, churches, schools, public buildings and transport infrastructure.
OCHA reported that at least two seaports remain non-operational and several roads are partially blocked, hampering aid delivery.
Humanitarian partners also report urgent needs, including shelter, water and access.
UN International Organization for Migration is on standby to support displaced families as they are preparing to distribute hygiene kits and water filtration units.
The disaster has severely impacted health services, with hospitals in northern Cebu stretched beyond capacity and emergency medical teams deployed from neighboring provinces.
Saia Ma’u Piukala, Regional Director of the WHO Western Pacific Office, highlighted the impact.
“The death toll from the September 30 earthquake in Cebu Province has mounted significantly. Hospitals report being overwhelmed with the injured,” he said.
“Our WHO Philippines Country Office is there to support the Government-led health response in whatever way is needed.”
Over 340 aftershocks have been recorded since the quake, ranged up to magnitude 4.8. Authorities warn that tremors could continue in the coming days.
The Philippines sits on the Pacific’s so-called “Ring of Fire” and is highly prone to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and typhoons.
The Regional Director Piukala said “The Philippines and many of our other 37 countries and areas are vulnerable to earthquakes and other disasters as a consequence of geography and, increasingly, the climate crisis,”, urged continued investment in preparedness.
UN Country Team in the Philippines expressed “deepest sympathies and unwavering solidarity” with those affected, praising first responders, medical personnel and volunteers.
