🇵🇭 - A 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck off the central Philippines coast, damaging buildings and

🇵🇭 - A 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck off the central Philippines coast, damaging buildings and roads, causing power outages, and prompting rescue efforts to locate victims.

The quake hit at 9:59 PM local time (1:59 PM GMT) off northern Cebu, collapsing a public building and a gymnasium in the province, according to Wilson Ramos, a local rescue official. Rescue operations are ongoing in San Remigio and Bogo, a city of 90,000 near the epicenter, though the number of missing persons remains unclear. Darkness and aftershocks, including four quakes of magnitude 5.0 or higher reported by the U.S. Geological Survey, are hampering recovery efforts.

In Cebu, the Santa Rosa de Lima shrine was destroyed, and a commercial building and school in Bantayan collapsed, with several village roads damaged. The Philippines National Grid reported power outages in Cebu and nearby central islands, with damage assessments underway.

Local seismology officials warned of a possible “minor sea level disturbance” and urged residents of Cebu, Leyte, and Biliran to avoid coastal areas. Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro, in a live Facebook video, urged residents to stay calm, move to open areas, avoid unstable structures, and remain vigilant for aftershocks.

The U.S. Geological Survey initially reported a 7.0 magnitude before revising it downward. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center confirmed no tsunami threat.

Located on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” the Philippines experiences frequent earthquakes, most too weak to be felt, though destructive quakes occur unpredictably.