Cairo, Egypt – The Philippines has become the scene of a humanitarian disaster after a powerful 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck the central part of the country on Tuesday evening. The quake has left 69 people dead and more than 140 injured so far. There is massive damage to buildings and infrastructure.
In Cebu province alone, approximately 22 buildings collapsed and cracked. Hospitals were overwhelmed with the injured. This forced medical personnel to treat critical cases in the streets due to shortages of supplies. The national electricity company declared a power outage in large areas before partially restoring power.
Scenes of horror continued as thousands fled into the streets and squares in fear of aftershocks. Seismologists warned that they would continue for the coming hours.
On the international level, the United Nations declared its full solidarity with the Philippines. It also expressed readiness to provide urgent support through relief programs. Several major capitals expressed their concern, with the United States, Japan, and the European Union expressing their willingness to send humanitarian aid. Specialized rescue teams are ready to participate in search and relief operations. The new disaster poses a difficult test for the Philippine government. This is given the economic and health challenges facing the country. The death toll is expected to rise as rescue efforts continue.
