STORY: The death toll from a 6.9-magnitude earthquake that hit the central Philippines has risen to 69, a disaster official said on Wednesday (October 1) as the government mobilised agencies to search for survivors and restore power and water supplies.

In Bogo city in the north of Cebu province, which was near the epicentre of the shallow quake that struck off the coast just before 10 p.m. on Tuesday (September 30), the hospital has been "overwhelmed," Civil Defense official Raffy Alejandro told reporters.

The earthquake struck off the coast of Bogo City in Cebu province in the central Visayas region just before 10 p.m. (1400 GMT) on Tuesday, causing power outages and bringing down buildings, including a church that was more than 100 years old.

Cebu province, one of the Philippines' most popular tourist destinations, is home to 3.4 million people. Mactan-Cebu International Airport, the country's second busiest gateway, remained operational. The quake struck hardest in northern Cebu, including San Remigio, which was placed under a state of calamity to facilitate response and relief efforts.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

VIDEO SHOWS: OFFICIALS MOVING BODY BAGS AT PROVINCIAL HOSPITAL / STILL PHOTOGRAPHS OF BODY BAGS AND CRYING RESIDENTS

EDITORS NOTE: PART VIDEO QUALITY AS INCOMING

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: BOGO CITY, CEBU PROVINCE, PHILIPPINES (OCTOBER 1, 2025) (ABS-CBN - No use Philippines)

1. RESCUERS CARRYING BODY BAGS

2. PEOPLE IN FRONT OF BODY BAGS

3. (NIGHT SHOT) RESIDENTS STAYING OUTDOORS IN TENTS AFTER EARTHQUAKE

4. (MUTE) STILL PHOTOGRAPH OF BODY BAGS

5. (MUTE) STILL PHOTOGRAPH OF RESIDENTS CRYING IN FRONT OF BODY BAGS