Philippines suffers deadliest earthquake in decade killing 72

A powerful magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck near Bogo City in Cebu, Philippines, marking the deadliest quake in the country since 2013, with at least 72 fatalities and dozens injured. The earthquake's shallow epicenter caused severe damage including collapsed buildings, a century-old church, and infrastructure cracks, complicating rescue efforts amid ongoing aftershocks. The quake struck at night, which contributed to the high death toll as many were asleep and unable to react quickly. The Philippine government declared a state of calamity and President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. visited the hardest-hit areas to oversee response efforts. International communities such as the U.S., Japan, and the EU have offered support and condolences as local teams continue urgent search and rescue operations. The disaster underscores the Philippines' vulnerability to seismic activity due to its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire, compounded recently by typhoons and tropical storms.