A powerful earthquake that struck Cebu province in the central Philippines on Tuesday night has killed at least 72 people and injured 200, the Philippines' Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said Wednesday.
As rescue operations continue, survivors in the worst-hit city of Bogo are confronting widespread power outages, destroyed homes, and overwhelmed medical facilities.
Many residents have been forced to sleep outdoors in tents or their vehicles, gathering in open spaces to collect relief supplies as darkness fell.
In affected neighborhoods, houses sustained severe damage as terraces collapsed, and wooden and sheet-metal structures were destroyed. Some residents remained in their damaged homes despite the danger.
Fear of aftershocks and structural damage forced the Cebu Provincial Hospital in Bogo to move bed-bound patients outside to receive treatment, including intravenous drips and oxygen, in the parking lot. The hospital is also functioning as a coordination center for rescue operations and casualty reporting.
Early on Wednesday, military vehicles carrying critical aid arrived in the affected areas of Cebu, delivering much-needed supplies to the devastated communities.
Philippines earthquake kills 72, leaves survivors facing blackouts, damaged homes
A Russian navy fleet consisting of Navy corvettes Sovershennyy and Rezkiy, and the medium-sized oil tanker Pechenga arrived in Zhanjiang City of south China's Guangdong Province on Wednesday for a goodwill visit.
The Russian fleet, flying the flags of both Russia and China, docked on Wednesday morning at a military port in Zhanjiang, where the Chinese side held a welcome ceremony.
During the visit, Chinese and Russian officers and soldiers will tour each other's ships, attend receptions, participate in professional exchanges, and compete in sporting events.
The visiting vessels belong to the Russian Pacific Fleet and had all previously participated in cooperation and exchange activities between the two Navies.
The Chinese vessel participated in the exchange, Chenzhou, is a home-grown guided-missile frigate, with strong early warning and detection capabilities as well as comprehensive combat capabilities in multiple aspects, including shore bombardment, anti-ship, anti-aircraft and anti-submarine warfare. Since its commissioning, it has participated in and successfully completed a number of major drills and military exercises.
"I hope that in the following days of the event, we can deepen friendship and engage in professional and technical discussions with our Russian counterparts, and showcase the excellent image of the Chinese Navy," said Zhang Wenxuan, a Chinese Navy sub-lieutenant on Frigate Chenzhou.
The visit is part of routine goodwill exchanges between the two Navies, aimed at further enhancing mutual trust and practical cooperation, which is neither targeted at any third party nor linked to the current international and regional situation.
Russian Navy fleet visits south China's port city
