Manila, Oct 4
The death toll in Tuesday's magnitude 6.9 earthquake in Cebu province in central Philippines has climbed to 70, according to the latest official figure released by the Philippines' highest body for disaster risk reduction and management on Saturday.
More than 120,000 families, or approximately 457,000 people, were affected by the tremor, which damaged over 18,000 houses and more than 500 infrastructures, including roads, bridges, and the city's hospital.
Earlier on Thursday, the Philippine government had announced the official termination of search, rescue, and retrieval operations in the four municipalities hardest hit by a powerful earthquake.
In a statement, the Philippines' Office of Civil Defence had announced that search, rescue, and retrieval operations in the municipalities of San Remigio, Daanbantayan, Medellin, and the City of Bogo, Province of Cebu, ended on Thursday afternoon.