A powerful magnitude-6.9 earthquake that rocked the central Philippines on Tuesday has left communities reeling, with the death toll now standing at 68 and injuries surging to 559, according to updated figures from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
Survivors shared harrowing accounts of the disaster with CGTN Stringer reporters, describing how buildings shook violently and panic gripped residents. "The ground kept moving even after the initial quake. We saw walls cracking and heard people screaming," said Christian, a resident whose home sustained structural damage.
Emergency crews continue search operations in hardest-hit areas as aftershocks complicate recovery efforts. The quake – one of the strongest to hit the region this year – damaged critical infrastructure including roads and bridges, temporarily isolating some mountain communities.
Seismologists warn the Philippines' location along the Pacific Ring of Fire makes it particularly vulnerable to earthquakes. This latest disaster has reignited discussions about disaster preparedness in a nation that experiences an average of 20 typhoons annually alongside frequent seismic activity.
