The magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck Bogo City on September 30, 2025, has been confirmed by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) as the strongest tremor ever recorded in Cebu. The powerful quake left widespread damage and was felt across multiple regions in the Visayas and Mindanao.
Phivolcs said the tremor, which occurred at 9:59 p.m., registered Intensity 7 near the epicenter. The shaking was powerful enough to be felt as far as Sorsogon, Zamboanga del Norte, and Misamis Oriental, underscoring the scale of the seismic event. The epicenter was traced 17 kilometers north of Bogo City at a depth of 10 kilometers, amplifying the ground movement in nearby areas.
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Casualties and Tsunami Warning
The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) reported that the death toll from the quake has reached 69 as of Wednesday. Officials emphasized that casualty numbers remain uncertain as rescue operations continue.
“We are receiving additional numbers of reported casualties. Kaya very fluid pa po (So it's still very fluid),” OCD officer-in-charge Assistant Secretary Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV said in a press conference.
Following the tremor, Phivolcs issued a tsunami warning at 9:59 p.m., which remained in effect until 1:20 a.m. on October 1. The advisory was later lifted after no significant changes in sea levels were observed.
Widespread Shaking Across the Region
Instrumental readings showed that Cebu City and Villaba in Leyte experienced Intensity 6 shaking, while lighter tremors were recorded in San Fernando, Cebu (Intensity III) and Laoang, Northern Samar (Intensity II). Authorities have urged the public to stay cautious around visibly weakened structures, warning that aftershocks may still cause collapses.
Phivolcs Director Teresito Bacolcol reminded residents of the risks, stressing the importance of consulting local engineers before re-entering damaged buildings. He also clarified that the quake was not connected to the recent activity of Taal Volcano, explaining that the country’s 185 active faults are capable of generating destructive earthquakes.
Cebu’s Strongest Quake on Record
The Bogo quake, initially reported at magnitude 6.7 before being upgraded to 6.9, now stands as Cebu’s most powerful earthquake on record. Nationwide, however, the strongest remains the 7.8-magnitude Luzon earthquake of July 16, 1990.
In recent years, the Visayas has endured at least eight major earthquakes ranging from magnitude 5.0 to 7.2. The 2013 North Bohol earthquake at magnitude 7.2 continues to be the strongest in the region.
With aftershocks expected, both Phivolcs and OCD are urging communities to remain vigilant as the Visayas braces for recovery.
