BREAKING Death Toll Rises to Over 100 from Typhoon and Earthquake in the Philippines as the Church Helps Victims
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On September 30th, 2025, about 10 pm local time, an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.9 hit the Visayas archipelago in the Philippines. Newly installed Cebu Archbishop Alberto Uy, extended his condolences to families who lost loved ones in the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck northern Cebu late Tuesday. The country was recovering from a typhoon on September 22nd that left 30 dead.
It was the strongest earthquake ever recorded in northern Cebu and the deadliest in the country since 2013, with its epicenter located off the coast of Cebu Province. Thousands of aftershocks were recorded. The Catholic shrine of Saint Rose of Lima in Cebu was also badly damaged. Pope Leo XIV expressed sympathy, prayer, and condolences, for the victims of the Cebu earthquake, relayed through the Apostolic Nuncio. The Philippine Catholic Bishops Conference is working with Caritas Philippines to bring life-saving aid to victims.
The earthquake killed at least 72 people and injured 559 others. A total of $60.91 million worth of infrastructure was damaged. Numerous buildings and houses collapsed, including churches and hospitals. Widespread power outages occurred and landslides caused damage.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council also reported that a total of 170,959 people have been affected, and 20,000 people remain displaced as of Thursday. It also said that at least 53 cities and municipalities have been placed under a state of calamity. In his homily for the Feast of the Guardian Angels, Uy urged the faithful to embody the mission of the angels by helping those in need. “In these difficult days… we are invited to show the spirit of the angels by sharing whatever we can—food, clothing, shelter, prayers, and even our time,” he said. “Every act of generosity becomes a way of guarding, guiding, and comforting others.” Uy added that to be an angel for someone is “to protect the weak, to accompany the lonely, and to give hope to those who have lost much.” “This is the best way to honor our guardian angels: by imitating their mission of love,” he said.
On Wednesday, the archbishop visited several parishes severely affected by the earthquake and offered prayers at the Daanbantayan District Hospital for the injured.
“My condolences to all who lost their loved ones because of the earthquake. May the Lord grant you strength and hope, ” Archbishop Uy said in a statement.
The archbishop called on communities to remain united in prayer and mutual support as they recover from the disaster.
“In times of hardship, let us all unite in prayer and mutual help, ” he said.
Several churches were damaged, prompting the Archdiocese of Cebu to suspend their use until structural assessments are completed.
In an advisory, the archdiocese directed parishes in hard-hit areas to refrain from celebrating Mass inside their churches until engineers declare the buildings safe.
It also ordered inspections of all churches and rectories in the archdiocese.
“Refrain from using your churches until the proper experts have carried out the assessment and declared the structures safe for use, ” it added.
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