Philippines Cebu Earthquake Kills 72 Injures Nearly 300

A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck Cebu Province in the central Philippines, resulting in at least 72 deaths and injuring nearly 300 people. The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) has officially ended search and rescue operations after confirming that all missing persons have been accounted for, shifting focus to relief distribution and debris clearing. Approximately 20,000 individuals remain displaced, staying in open-air evacuation sites due to fears of aftershocks and structural risks. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. visited the affected areas to assess damage and provide support to survivors, as the region continues to recover from the disaster. The earthquake is the deadliest in the Philippines in over a decade, a country frequently impacted by seismic activity due to its location on the Pacific "Ring of Fire." Personal stories from survivors underscore the tragedy, including the loss experienced by families caught in the devastation.