The local government of San Remegio, Cebu, confirmed that a 10-year-old child died during the 6.9-magnitude earthquake that struck at 10 p.m. on Tuesday.
In an interview with Inquirer, Maria Divina Nacionales of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) said the child was struck by a hollow block after their house in Barangay Looc collapsed during the quake.
According to initial information from the MDRRMO, the child’s entire family was asleep when the earthquake occurred, leaving the child inside.
‘There was also an elderly companion with them who was rescued first, and the child was left behind,’ Nacionales said.
She added that they have received up to four reports of casualties, but as of this writing, they could not yet confirm them due to difficulty reaching affected areas.
‘Our situation is very difficult right now. We cannot respond quickly because a bridge also collapsed, making those areas inaccessible,’ Nacionales said.
As of now, the San Remegio MDRRMO and the police are still verifying reports of other casualties in the town