Magnitude 6.9 Earthquake Rocks Cebu, Causes Widespread Damage and Aftershocks

A powerful magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck the province of Cebu on Tuesday night, September 30, 2025, resulting in at least 22 fatalities, significant damage to infrastructure and heritage sites, and widespread power outages. The quake, which occurred at 9:59 p.m., was centered 21 kilometers northeast of Bogo City at a shallow depth of 5 kilometers, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS). The initial tremor was reported as a magnitude 6.7 before being upgraded.

The earthquake caused extensive damage across the province, particularly in northern Cebu. A child was tragically killed in the town of San Remigio when a wall collapsed on him in his sleep. In the aftermath, centuries-old heritage churches, including the Archdiocesan Shrine of Santa Rosa de Lima in Daanbantayan and the Parroquia de San Pedro Apostol on Bantayan Island, sustained considerable damage. A commercial building and a school in Bantayan also collapsed. The powerful tremor was captured in a dashcam video showing the Mactan-Mandaue Bridge shaking violently.

In the hours following the main quake, Phivolcs recorded around 100 aftershocks, with the strongest being a magnitude 5.1. These aftershocks have kept residents on edge.

Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro has urged the public to “stay calm and move to open areas; keep away from walls or structures that may collapse and stay alert for aftershocks.” Rescue and assessment operations are ongoing as authorities work to determine the full extent of the damage. The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines reported that the earthquake tripped power lines, leading to power interruptions across Cebu and neighboring islands.