ARCORES responds to the devastating earthquake in Cebu

The powerful 6.9 magnitude earthquake that struck the Visayas region on the afternoon of September 29, 2025, has caused a severe humanitarian crisis in northern Cebu. With its epicenter near the city of Bogo and a depth of only 5 kilometers, the tremor caused catastrophic damage and tragically claimed the lives of 69 people in Cebu province, according to the latest official estimates.

This significant loss of human life highlights the devastating impact on local families and communities, requiring an immediate and large-scale emergency response focused on search and rescue, medical assistance for more than 140 injured, and the provision of essential humanitarian aid to thousands of newly displaced survivors. The sudden and violent nature of the disaster, which occurred late at night, has left communities shocked and in desperate need of external support to meet their most basic needs.

Beyond the immediate human cost, the earthquake has also caused severe cultural and historical damage, particularly to century-old heritage structures in northern Cebu. Several heritage churches, built by Augustinian Recollect missionaries and constituting irreplaceable monuments of the region’s past, suffered significant damage. The partial collapse of the Archdiocesan Shrine of Santa Rosa de Lima in the town of Daanbantayan is clear visual testimony to the enormous destructive force of the earthquake.

ARCORES Philippines on the front line

Our ARCORES Philippines team in Cebu is led by Father Glynn Ortega and Father Randy Castillo Jr., who are currently assessing the situation to determine the immediate assistance our network can provide to families directly affected by the tragedy. We ensure that immediate aid provided by our network, which will include food distribution, provision of temporary shelters, and medical assistance, is deployed as soon as possible.

Local hospitals are completely overwhelmed, and thousands of families have lost their homes, facing the elements without access to basic services such as electricity and drinking water. The situation requires a coordinated and sustained response to address both immediate needs and long-term reconstruction.

How to help

In these critical moments, your solidarity can make the difference between hope and despair. ARCORES, as part of the Augustinian Recollect International Solidarity Network, establishes emergency procedures, one of which is donation for the purchase of temporary shelters, distribution of food and drinking water, and ultimately, reconstruction.

Donation in euros (€)

ARCORES (Spain)
ES57 0075 0241 4406 0086 0510
BSCHESMMXXX
Bizum: 00713

Donate to a project

ARCORES (Italy)
IBAN: IT33E020080513400010577805
BIC Swift Code: UNCRITMMXXX
Unicredit Bank

Donation in dollars ($)

ARCORES−InternationalSolidarityNetwork()∗∗ARCORES−InternationalSolidarityNetwork()
IBAN: ES19 0081 0640 6700 7199 0313
BIC Swift Code: BSABESBB
Banco Sabadell

A call for solidarity

The Philippines, located in the Pacific Ring of Fire, constantly faces natural disasters. This earthquake adds to the recent typhoons that have battered the country, multiplying the suffering of already vulnerable communities. In times like these, international solidarity becomes a beacon of hope.

As the ARCORES family, we reaffirm our commitment to those most in need and make an urgent call for the generosity of all those who can contribute. Every donation, however small, represents an opportunity for life, dignity, and hope for the families of Cebu.

For any information regarding this emergency action, you can contact the ARCORES International technical office at the email address: info@arcores.org