Cebu earthquake death toll rises to 72 —NDRRMC

The death toll from the devastating Cebu earthquake has risen to 72, according to the latest figures from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) released on Thursday morning.

NDRRMC said all casualties are still for validation. 

"Nadagdagan po ng tatlo overnight, from 69, 72 na po ang namatay and more than 200 po ang injured," said Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Region 7 Director Joel Erestain in an interview on Unang Balita. 

(Three more people died overnight, from 69 to 72, and more than 200 were injured.)

NDRRMC's data showed that 294 people were reported injured from the Cebu earthquake. 

Asked if the number of fatalities can still go up, Erestain said they are hoping that this will not be the case.

"Mukhang hindi na po aakyat yun, sana po huwag na umakyat... Hindi na po mag-skyrocket," he added.

(It looks like it won't go up anymore, I hope it doesn't go up anymore and the numbers won't skyrocket anymore.)

LIVE UPDATES: Cebu earthquake (Oct. 2, 2025)

Meanwhile, there is no reported missing person in NDRRMC's data. 

"Wala po tayong reported na nawawala, pero sinusubukan pa din pong maghukay ng mga debris," Erestain added.

(We have not reported any missing persons, but we are still trying to dig through the debris.)

The magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck Bogo City, Cebu on Tuesday has affected 47,221 families, or 170,959, and displaced 20,000 persons, according to their data.

Aftershocks also continue to be felt in the province with the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) reporting 2,461 of them as of 6 a.m. on Thursday.

PHIVOLCS said that the aftershocks ranged from magnitude 1.0 to 5.0 and that only 13 were felt. 

"Ang pinakamataas ay magnitude 5 (aftershock) na nangyari kagabi 10:46 p.m. So far, out of the 2,329 aftershocks na narecord natin, 13 yung naramdaman ng mga tao," said PHIVOLCS director Dr. Teresito Bacolcol in an interview on Unang Balita. 

(The highest was a magnitude 5 (aftershock) that occurred last night at 10:46 p.m. So far, out of the 2,329 aftershocks that we have recorded, 13 were felt by people.)

Bacolcol added that aftershocks are expected to continue in the coming days.

"We expect the aftershocks to last several days, even several weeks. So, yun naman po talaga yung measure ng aftershocks natin. Pero habang tumatagal naman, magdedecrease yung number ng aftershocks at magdedecline din yung strength ng aftershocks," added Bacolcol. 

OCD has warned the public to avoid going back to their houses until authorities declare it is safe to do so.

"Puwede naman po silang bumalik, but people should be cautious of the structures na visibly weakened at may signs of damage," Bacolcol also said. 

(They can return, but people should be cautious of the structures that are visibly weakened and have signs of damage.)

"For example may nakita silang cracks, bago sila bumalik dun, they should consult their municipal or city engineers and seek further advise. Kasi po kung hindi ito totally bumagsak during the main shock, baka babagsak eto during a strong aftershock," he further explained.

(For example, if they see cracks, before they return there, they should consult their municipal or city engineers and seek further advice. Because if it doesn't completely collapse during the main shock, it might collapse during a strong aftershock.) 

PHIVOLCS said that the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck Bogo City is the strongest earthquake ever recorded in northern Cebu.

Caused by an offshore fault within 5 kilometers, the strongest intensity the earthquake produced was Intensity VII, which was felt in Bogo City, Daanbantayan, Medellin, San Remegio, and Tabuela in Cebu —VAL, GMA Integrated News