Over 10,000 tombs damaged by earthquake in Bogo, Cebu

Even the dead were not spared by the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck Cebu as some 10,000 tombs were damaged in a cemetery in Bogo City, the tremor's epicenter.

According to a report on "24 Oras" by Fe Marie Dumaboc of GMA Regional TV, the quake not only leveled towns but also affected the dead, with the destruction dislodging coffins from their resting places. 

Celestino Bentulan, caretaker of Corazon Cemetery, said more than half of the 20,000 coffins were affected.  The concrete covering of the coffins cracked, and some have caved in, exposing the coffins.

The family of Rosalina Ramos was one of the early visitors in the cemetery to check on their dead following the earthquake.

The cemetery management appealed for understanding from the public as they await word on how to restore the resting grounds.

Meanwhile, all 38 schools in Bogo also sustained damage, affecting 7,500 classrooms. Two of these schools were totally damaged, according to Philip Condor of the Bogo Department of Education.

"There's an ongoing assessment of the schools and we really prioritize safety, so that's the instruction of PBBM (President Marcos) and Secretary Sonny (Angara).  We shifted to the Alternative Delivery Mode of learning, that's what we are implementing now," said Dr. Salustiano Jimenez, DepEd Region 7 director.

A teacher in one of the schools in Bogo died after being pinned down by a collapsed wall.

Face-to-face classes in the city have been temporarily suspended, and students will be taught through alternative modes of learning. —GMA Integrated News