The death toll from an earthquake in the Philippines rose to at least 72 people Thursday with nearly 300 injured, according to officials.

More than 170,000 people were affected by the magnitude 6.9 earthquake which struck the central Philippines on Tuesday night.

In the city of Bogo, Cebu province, relatives held wakes for their loved ones Thursday.

One woman sat in between two open caskets holding her children. Her arm was in a sling, her head bandaged and she had a bruised face.

The earthquake damaged or destroyed 87 buildings and nearly 600 houses in Bogo, a relatively new and progressive coastal city of about 90,000, and outlying towns. Bridges and concrete roads were damaged and a seaport in Bogo collapsed.

Elsewhere in the city, evacuees were camping in rows of tents, resisting returning to the city center for fear of aftershocks.

Rine Rosel, one of the evacuees, sat on a blanket crying.

"There are people who have good hearts to help us now so we can get started again," she said.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. flew to Bogo Thursday to assess the damage and offer aid and support to survivors while mourning with families of the victims.

Just days ago, the president was in the central region after a fierce storm left at least 37 people dead and lashed more than half a million people, including in Cebu province.

The United States, a longtime treaty ally of the Philippines, offered assistance following the earthquake.

AP Video by Joeal Calupitan and Aaron Favila