Aftershocks continued to shake parts of the central Philippines Sunday following last week’s massive earthquake, as Christian aid workers struggled to reach survivors amid growing humanitarian needs.
Authorities said a magnitude 5.0 quake struck about 97 kilometers west of Davila, in Philippine waters, on Sunday, while a smaller quake of magnitude 4.4 was recorded off Bogo City, in Cebu province. Another tremor, magnitude 4.0, was detected near Mindanao later that day.
The new shocks followed the much stronger 6.9-magnitude earthquake that devastated Cebu on September 30, killing at least 72 people and injuring nearly 300 others, according to officials. The shallow nighttime quake left dozens of buildings in ruins, disrupted electricity and water supplies, and triggered landslides.
As of October 5, seismologists said more than 6,300 aftershocks had been recorded, further complicating rescue and relief efforts. Local Christians say promised government aid is slow to arrive, forcing them to take the lead in delivering emergency supplies.
“We managed to bring hundreds of bottles of bottled water. We need more, but the supplies are limited,” said quake survivor and Christian aid worker Merry Joy Osman in an interview with Worthy News. Osman organized a motorbike convoy to reach hard-hit rural communities.
“We also need to buy tarps because it’s raining and many families are in a very difficult situation,” she explained. Some traveled to the troubled Tabuelan mountains, while others, like Osman, drove to the coastal San Remegio municipality, about a 3 to 3.5-hour drive from the provincial capital Cebu City. “It was a very difficult trip due to wind, massive rain, and damaged roads. We even saw aid vehicles involved in a serious crash,” she said, confirming footage obtained by Worthy News.
She said she saw some 15 families “near the sea” forced to remain outdoors in the pouring rain. “I visited a family who are afraid to return to their damaged home. There are even sinkholes there. Now they urgently need a tarp.”
Osman added that she survived the September 30 quake after hiding beneath a table as her Cebu City office began shaking. “God is good all the time”, said the mother of one, adding that she thanked the Lord that her daughter survived in the chaos.
Rescuers have continued searching for survivors and recovering bodies from collapsed homes, schools, and churches. Among the victims were children and elderly residents unable to flee in time. Families mourned loved ones, but some also shared accounts of what they called miracles, such as children rescued unharmed from rubble.
Hospitals in Cebu and neighboring islands remain overwhelmed, and local officials declared states of calamity to speed up relief funds. International organizations have offered support, but reaching isolated villages remains a significant challenge.
The disaster struck just days after the region was battered by storms, deepening the crisis for thousands of families. Officials warn that the humanitarian situation could worsen with more rain and landslides.
The Philippines, lying on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” is one of the world’s most disaster-prone nations.
Last week’s quake is among the deadliest to hit the archipelago in years, renewing fears of the long-predicted “Big One” near Manila, the nation’s capital.
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