At least 69 people have been killed and dozens injured after a powerful 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck the central Philippines late on Tuesday.
The province of Cebu, which suffered the brunt of the damage, declared a state of calamity early on Wednesday, after thousands spent the night on the streets amid repeated aftershocks.
One Cebu resident told the BBC he was among them, adding that power and water supplies were cut off. He says the voices of crying children could be heard around him, adding that they were traumatised.
The earthquake comes barely more than a week after the country was hit by back-to-back typhoons which killed more than a dozen people.
Most of the victims were from Bogo city, the town closest to the earthquake's epicentre. Images from the area showed cadaver bags lined on the streets and many people being treated in temporary medical facilities. Local authorities are calling for volunteers with medical skills to assist with the growing number of injuries.
Road damage has also hindered access for emergency responders, compounding the challenges during search and rescue operations. Some victims from the disaster were living in a village built for survivors of Typhoon Haiyan, which devastated the region a decade ago.
The archbishop of Cebu has advised people to avoid entering old churches until structural assessments can be completed, as many are significant historical sites dating back to the Spanish colonization of the Philippines.
As of Wednesday evening, Bogo experienced yet another aftershock, recorded at a magnitude of 4.7, which was felt in Cebu city and surrounding areas. Fortunately, there have been no additional reports of casualties due to this tremor.
The Philippines' location on the geologically vulnerable Ring of Fire makes it susceptible to seismic activity and natural disasters, with the nation often grappling with the aftermath of typhoons and earthquakes.
