People gather on a street after earthquake tremors at Cebu in central Philippines on September 30, 2025. Alan Tangcawan/AFP/Getty Images

A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.9 struck the central Philippines around 10 p.m. local time, according to the US Geological Survey, raising fears about damage and the possibility of a localized tsunami.

A quake of this strength in the region could cause casualties and considerable damage to poorly built structures, early survey models suggest.

The earthquake occurred only 10 kilometers (6 miles) underwater, just west of Palompon in the Philippines and close to the city of Bogo in Cebu province.

In Cebu province, footage shared on social media showed a fire breaking out at a mall due to the earthquake, as well as a badly damag

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