3 babies delivered during Cebu earthquake amid hospital evacuation

Hospitals in Cebu faced a host of challenges after a magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck the province on Tuesday evening. 

According to the report of GMA Regional TV’s Fe Marie Dumaboc in “24 Oras” on Wednesday, all the patients at the Cebu City Medical Center were immediately evacuated. Among them were three infants who were being delivered during the earthquake. 

In Cebu City, at least five persons were reported injured due to the tremor. Among them is Jezreel, a minor who slipped during the earthquake. The fall caused a fracture on his right hand. 

“We were running because we thought the quake would be stronger. Out of panic, I slipped,” he said in Cebuano. 

Not only did the earthquake cause difficulties to hospital operations, but patients and medical staff outdoors also had to worry about the rain. 

“There was no rain earlier, that’s why the doctors and us decided to evacuate the patients due to possible aftershocks,” said Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival. 

“We have tents but not everyone can fit inside. So we decided with the doctors to allow everyone to stay on the first floor for a while,” he added. 

All the patients went back inside the hospital at 2 a.m. Thursday after it was assured there would be no more aftershocks. 

It was not hard to see the immediate impact of the earthquake in other parts of Cebu. 

A portion of the Archdiocesan Shrine of Santa Rosa De Lima in Daanbantayan was heavily damaged. But the image in front of the church was left untouched, which appears to symbolize Cebuano’s faith amid this latest trial. 

Meanwhile, rescuers in San Remigio are working non-stop to save lives at a sports complex where a basketball game was ongoing when the earthquake occurred. 

The provincial government said it has deployed teams, heavy and rescue equipment to various affected areas. —Vince Angelo Ferreras/RF, GMA Integrated News