Locals evacuate to safer ground as a magnitude 6.9 earthquake rocks Mandaue City in Cebu province on September 30, 2025. Alan Tangcawan/PonD News Asia
MANILA (2nd UPDATE) — Hundreds of aftershocks have rattled Cebu following the deadly earthquake that struck the province and nearby areas on Tuesday night.
As of 9 a.m., Phivolcs has recorded 795 aftershocks including 4 “major” ones, with the strongest measuring magnitude 4.8.
Most of the aftershocks are clustered in the quake’s epicenter in Bogo City.
Phivolcs chief Dr. Teresito Bacolcol said the public should expect more aftershocks in the next few days and even weeks.
Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. said succeeding aftershocks could have weaker magnitudes.
“Ang rule of thumb natin kapag titignan natin ano kaya ang posibleng aftershock na mangyari, usually one magnitude lower… Magnitude 4.8, which is kagabi ‘yun nangyari, ang pinakamalakas. So typically, the first 24 hours, maraming mga aftershock. And then paunti-unti, bababa siya,” he said.
“But I expect na even in the next two days pa, in the first three days, marami pa rin mararamdaman diyan doon sa episentro like Bogo City,” Solidum told reporters in a chance interview at the House of Representatives.
Aftershocks could breach the 1,000-mark, said Dr. Winchelle Ian Sevilla, chief of the Seismological Observation and Earthquake Prediction Division.
A shallow 6.9 earthquake shook the waters off the northeastern part of Bogo City just before 10 p.m. Tuesday, sending panicking residents into the streets or open spaces and knocking out power to many areas.
Cebu quake likely triggered by fault that had not produced powerful tremor in past 400 years
The powerful quake killed at least 69 people after it caused damage to buildings — including churches — and prompted the suspension of classes in much of Cebu.
Authorities race to save trapped residents within crucial 24 hours after Cebu quake
Solidum attributed the extent of the damage in the province to the intensity of the earthquake, the softness of the soil in parts of Cebu, and the quality of the structures there.
“‘Yung lakas ng pagyanig ay depende rin kung malambot ang lupa. Like sa Cebu City, may mga malalambot doon. Kaya ‘yung mga Intensity 7, doon natin nakikita yung mga damages… Malaki ang epekto ng kalidad ng mga bahay at gusali, at marami tayong balitaan na namatay dahil bumagsak ang wall. May mga nadaganan ng wall,” he said.
“‘Yung lumang simbahan ay nadali din. Kasi luma na silang masyado. So dapat nare-reinforce din siya. uilding at bahay, simbahan. At pangalawa, minsan ‘yung tinatawag na,” Solidum added.
PHIVOLCS TEAMS
The DOST-PHIVOLCS is set to dispatch teams to Cebu to monitor aftershocks and assess the geological impacts of the magnitude 6.9 earthquake in the province.
Solidum said the teams are composed of geologists, engineers, seismologists, scientists, and information personnel.
“‘Yung ating quick response teams, multi purpose. ‘Yung pagdadagdag na monitoring ng mga aftershock at tingnan natin kung may epekto sa ibang lugar. Pangalawa, bakit nagkaroon ng mga damage? Ano po ‘yung mga panganib na nangyari at pwede pang mangyari? At siyempre, ‘yung information campaign sa local government at lalung lalo na sa mga tao, kasi ang aming experience, nagpapanic minsan,” Solidum said.
“May mga experience kami na ayaw matulog ng ating mga kababayan sa mga bahay na wala naman damage. Usually, after three days, pwede na, di ba? So, minsan tinutulungan natin ang kanilang desisyon sa pagpapaunawa kung ano ang nangyari at ano pa ang posibleng mangyari,” he added.
Bacolcol said the teams would prioritize Daanbantayan, Bogo City, and the northern part of Cebu, which are most affected by the earthquake. But they will also later check other areas.
“Hopefully within the day, makapag-dispatch kami ng team sa Cebu, instrumentation team… may mga geologists din kami na ipapadala to check on the geologic impacts,” he said.
NHCP TEAMS
The National Historical Commission of the Philippines also plans to send a team to Cebu this weekend to assess the earthquake’s damage on heritage sites, and plan the restoration.
The Commission said it was in close coordination with cultural agencies and stakeholders to study appropriate steps moving forward.
“Balak namin pumunta, magpadala ng team, kasama po ako, itong weekend. Kasama ng NCCA. So, multi-agency kami na titingin kami doon,” NHCP Chairperson Regalado Jose Jr. said.
“Ngayong hapon, may naka-schedule na kami mag-Zoom meeting with the authorities sa Cebu para pag-usapan ‘yung strategy natin,” he added.
The NHCP encourages local partners to take initial protective measures such as safeguarding movable heritage, retrieving significant fragments, and documenting the extent of the damage for future reference.
“First of all, i-cordon off ang area, walang dapat pumasok, kasi may malaking chance na may bumagsak. Then pag medyo safe na, kukunin ng mga… nagbabantay ‘yung mga ibang gamit, mga carvings, i-secure na nila kasi siyempre pwedeng pulutin ng mga tao ‘yun,” Jose said.
“At huwag muna nilang ihayag sa media kasi makikita ng mga tao na mayroon pa lang ganoon. So for safety reasons, dapat ‘yung mga taga roon magsa-safeguard talaga ng cultural property.”
“Dapat under the guidance of the local authorities and the parish priest, kung sino may hawak ng cultural property, siyang magbibigay ng mga tao na magbabantay o kukuha ng mga cultural property doon. As much as possible, maraming documentation, video or picture taking... Para pag ni-restore na, sinubukan natin na i-restore, mayroon tayong documentation… Naglilikom na kami ng pictures ng mga simbahan sa Bantayan, at iba mga simbahan,” he added.
COMPARING CEBU QUAKE, 2013 BOHOL TEMBLOR
Phivolcs’ Sevilla said Tuesday’s temblor was quite different from the deadly quake in Bohol in 2013.
"Eto kasi side to side ang paggalaw, yung nangyari sa Bohol, yun yung tinatawag namin na reverse fault, umangat po ang lupa. Medyo may kalakasan yung sa Bohol," Sevilla said.
(This Cebu quake had side to side movement. What happened in Bohol is a reverse fault where movement was vertical.)
The Cebu earthquake is not expected to trigger the movement of other faults in other parts of the country.
ALWAYS BE READY
Solidum said if an earthquake of at least 6.5 magnitude jolts the West Valley Fault, which poses significant risks to Metro Manila, casualties could reach “tens of thousands”.
That is why he stressed the importance of preparing for a strong earthquake, and ensuring that structures are earthquake-resistant.
“Dahil masyadong maraming building and population. So the more buildings, the more population, the higher the potential impact,” Solidum said.
“‘Yung lindol is not an easy event to prepare. But it can be prepared for by making sure that our houses, our infrastructures, the places we visit like churches or malls, are earthquake-resistant,” he added.
Solidum advised authorities to inspect the integrity of structures. He said the public may use the app “How Safe is My House” to assist in assessing if a structure can withstand a strong earthquake.
Once an earthquake hits, Solidum advised the public to move away from the weak parts of structures like walls.
“Layuan natin ‘yung mga pinakamahinang parte ng mga bahay, tulad ng mga wall. Dapat, magpwesto tayo sa mga poste at biga, sa sulok. And then, siyempre, paghandaan natin ang mga posibleng panganib ng lindol. Hindi lang ‘yung pagkasira ng bahay, malambot ba lupa, liquefaction, pwede ba magka-landslide, at syempre, nasaan ‘yung mga fault. So, pwede po nilang hanapin sa Hazard Hunter PH app ng DOST-PHIVOLCS ‘yung mga yun,” he said.
Solidum also has this reminder to those driving on bridges when an earthquake happens.
“Pag nagdadrive ka, lalo na sa mga tulay, magsu-sway ‘yung tulay. Mahihirapan ka magdrive, maaaksidente. Ang gagawin talaga ay titigil. I-park mo ‘yung kotse at doon na lang. Iwasan n’yo rin pumwesto sa may mga poste ng ilaw kasi baka bumagsak,” he said.
“So talagang tigil, ipwesto sa gilid’ yung mga motorsiklo at ‘yung mga sasakyan, para kung sakaling naging mapaminsala e meron pang dadaanan ‘yung mga risk partner... Kaya nga sa gilid dapat,” Solidum added.
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