Death toll from Cebu quake now at 70 – OCD
Published Oct 4, 2025 01:49 pm
Business establishments that were damaged due to a recent strong earthquake lie at the Bogo City Pier, Cebu Province, Central Philippines on Oct. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
Two more fatalities were reported due to the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that hit northern Cebu last September 30, bringing the death toll to 70, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said.
As of Saturday, Oct. 4, a report from the OCD showed that there were 32 people who died in Bogo City, the epicenter of the quake. Meanwhile, 15 deaths were recorded in San Remigio while 14 fatalities were registered in Medellin.
Six people also died in Tabogon while one death each was logged in the towns of Borbon, Sogod, and Tabuelan.
The OCD said 128,294 families comprised of 457,554 individuals were affected in 184 barangays across Central Visayas (Region 7). Of this, around 1,300 individuals were temporarily sheltered in four evacuation centers while more than 25,000 others were living outside of their homes due to fear of aftershocks.
The OCD added that 13,507 houses were destroyed completely while 18,154 homes were partially damaged due to the quake.
Relief aid pours in
In response to the recent earthquake, the uniformed services assisted in transporting food and non-food items to Cebu to address the needs of the victims.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) deployed BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV-8301) to transport 3,300 “Charitimba” food packs and 2,066 evacuation supply kits from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), and 66 sacks of rice from the Coast Guard Civil Relations Service (CGCRS).
The vessel arrived at Sabil Point, San Remigio, Cebu on Saturday while also carrying 23 PCG personnel, a representative from the PCSO, and 20 members of LCT Island Shipping to ensure the rapid deployment of resources to displaced families and affected communities.
The Philippine Air Force (PAF) also deployed a C-130 aircraft that airlifted essential supplies from Colonel Jesus Villamor Air Base in Pasay City to Brigadier General Benito N. Ebuen Air Base in Lapu-Lapu City.
On board were 812 evacuation kits from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), various CSSR equipment provided by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), and 170 boxes of medical supplies from the Department of Health (DOH).
Meanwhile, the Philippine Army (PA) mobilized 587 soldiers from the 53rd Engineer Brigade, Joint Task Group Cebu under the 3rd Infantry Division, and standby troops from PA Headquarters Disaster Response Units to assist in the evacuation of 292 families in the municipalities of Carmen, Consolacion, and Sogod.
“The Army works tirelessly to assist partner agencies, local government units, and volunteer stakeholders in the swift and coordinated disaster response efforts in the most affected areas in Cebu to hasten the province's recovery and rebuilding efforts,” PA spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala said.
The Philippine Navy (PN), through its Civil Military Operations Group (CMOG-PN), consolidated 576 bags of relief goods, including food packs, bottled water, and hygiene kits, from contributors such as PAIR CARGO and Bell Khenz Pharma.
Relief operations were coordinated with the Civil Military Operation Unit-Central (CMOU-C) to ensure swift and organized delivery to evacuation centers across Cebu province.
The PN also mobilized BRP Dagupan City (LS-551) as part of its efforts for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response (HADR) mission.
On the other hand, the OCD Central Office dispatched two teams to Cebu, one was a four-man team tasked to facilitate, coordinate, and plan response efforts while the other was a five-member unit directed to assist in providing potable water and emergency telecommunications in various affected areas.
The four-man team, led by Colonel Gilbert Conde, Officer-in-Charge of the OCD – Civil Defense Service, is responsible for attending coordination meetings, conducting site inspections and assessments, and facilitating the implementation of key interventions.
“One of their critical tasks is the establishment of a 'Tent City’ as a temporary relocation site for the victims and managing traffic at entry points to Bogo City,” OCD Executive Director Usec. Harold Cabreros said.
The team is working closely with the Army’s 53rd Engineering Brigade, the 14th Civil-Military Operations (CMO) Battalion, and the PNP to support the setup of temporary shelters.
Coordination meetings have also been conducted with the local government unit (LGU) of Bogo City for the identification and preparation of the Tent City site in Barangay Cogon, intended to serve as a temporary relocation area for displaced residents.
Meanwhile, the second team of five personnel was helping set up power stations and internet connectivity. The OCD Central Office facilitated the transport of food and non-food relief items to Cebu. A batch of supplies was delivered to Cebu on Thursday, in coordination with the PCG and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).