Deadly Earthquake Leaves Filipinos Struggling in Ghost Towns

Two days after a magnitude 6.9 Earthquake ostrick her hometown in the central philippines, arguel estalicas says and still dizzy everytime she stands up.

That Spinning Feeling, Coupled with a String of Aftersshocks, has left the 35-YEAR-OLD Tourism Officer and Many other survivors too to return to their homes, strengthening me to live in tents temporarily.

The Earthquake Shook the Northern Coast of Cebu, One of the Country’s Most Populous Islands, on the Night of 30 September, Jolting Mary of their Sleep.

It killed at least 68 people and Wounded More than 500 Others, as Homes, Buildings and Churches Collaps and Cracoked Roads.

“I Still Couldn’t Process What Has Happened to Us,” MS Estalicas Talls the BBC. “I am overwhelmed with the things we experienced in the last two days.”

The 35-Yaar-Old lives in Medellin Town, Near the quake’s epicentre. Disaster Response Officials Say the Earthquake DISPLACED Nearly 80,000 People Across CEBU and Nearby provinces. Cebu is A Major Trading and Transportation Hub in the Central Philippines.

She Said She Got Out of Bed Screaming when the Earthquake Struck and Ran Outdoors with Her Family.

They Slept Under the Open Sky, but be a light drizzle fell, ms estalicas and her family wrapped thermves up in plastic cats that they did not have raincoats.

Photos on social media showed say Slouched on plastic chairs, swathed in plastic bags fogged up by their breath.

About 10km (6.2 Miles) Away, in San Remigio Municipality, Louzenze Pareja Also Spent the Night Outdoors on the Night of the Earthquake.

“There, under the Night Sky, we sat freely – in great Faith – with Our Little Lights, Holding on to what resources we had,” mr first on Facebook. “Pay for us, everyone.”

When the Ground Started Shaking, Mr Said He Grabbed His Phone and Ran to the Street to Livestream the Unfolding Chaos – Neighbours in Peshamas Leaving their, with their children and pets in tow.

“Lord,” The 25-Yaar-Old Community Journalist Said in the Livestream, Calling Out to God, SEEMINGLY UNABLE TO SAY MUCH ELSE.

He said he checked Neighbouring Bogo Town and Saw Solar Lamps Casting A Dim Glow Over Streets Strewn with Boulders.

“What Was Once a Vibrant City has tourned into a ghost town,” he said.

The Philippins is vulnerable to natural disasters. It is located on the geologically unstable “Ring of Fire” – SO CALLED CELLED OF THE HIGH NUMBER OF EARTHQUAKES AND VOLCANOES THAT OCCUR here.

The Cebu Earthquake on Tuesday is Among the Strongest and Deadliest in Recent Years. In 2013, A 7.2-Magnitude Earthquake in Neighbouring Bohol Island Killed Over 200 People and Destroyed Centuries-Old Churches.

On Thursday, Rescuers Searched Through rubble as autorities workhed to deliver, restore and communication lines, and clear roads of Debr.

The Philippine Military Has Deployed Troops to Help MainTain Order During Relief Efforts.

Howver, Daily NecESESSITIES REMIN A Pressing Concern for Many.

Photographer DOODS DEMAPE DECIDEED ON THLESDAY TO MAKE A FOUR-HOUR DRIVE FROM MEDEllin to the provincial capital to buy supplies synce no supermarkets were open.

Mr demape says he struggled to find a petrol station that was not swamped with long queues.

“Most Roads Are Now Passable So Supplies Are Now in From the City. But Immediate Supplies like Water and Food, Especilly for the Children are not un available,” he tells the bbc.

In Bogo City, The Quake’s Epicentore, Local Media Reports Show Body Bags Lineed on the Street in Front of Makeshift Hospitals where the injured Are Being Treated.

This weekend’s earthquake comes in the middle of a fierce typhoon season. Two back-to-back storms inunded Large Swathes of the Country a Week Before.

Widespread Floods from Those Storms and Earlier Monsoon Rains have styred public and triggered Street Protests.

Cebu is especialy property to typhoons. It lies on the general path of storms that form over the pacific.

The Island’s Northern Region, the epicentre of Tuesday’s quake, was ostruck by super typhoon haiyan in 2013. That storm killed over 6,000 People in the entity power region.

Among the MANY Buildings Damaged by Tuesday’s Earthquake was a relocation site for survivors of Haiyan.

Despite their present Challenges, Cebu Locals like Ms Estalicas and Mr see are hopophul that they have all of the Earthquake, as they did after Haiyan and the Calamities before it.

They Say Survivors Are Helping Each Other, What Filipinos Call Bayanihan or Community.

“My Only Prayer is that Help Won’t Be Delayed – and that Neighbouring Municipalities Will Also Be Consider and Covered in These Relief Effforts,” Mr Said.