At least 69 people have been killed in a 6.9 magnitude earthquake in the central Philippines, officials say
Cebu province has declared a state of calamity after the earthquake struck at around 22:00 local time (14:00 GMT) on Tuesday - "Bang! It was as if the Earth stopped spinning," one resident says
Before and after images show the extent of the damage, with cracked bridges and roads as well as destroyed buildings - another video from Cebu shows people clinging to each other as the quake begins
Rescuers are sifting through rubble for survivors as authorities rush to deliver aid and restore electricity and communication lines
The Philippines is very vulnerable to natural disasters and lies on the geologically unstable "ring of fire", our correspondent Jonathan Head writes
The earthquake comes a week after back-to-back typhoons killed over a dozen people and an unusually wet monsoon season caused widespread flooding, stoking public anger
At least seven people, including a pregnant woman, have died in Yolanda Village in Bogo. This is a housing project built for the victims of the catastrophic 2013 Typhoon Haiyan, known in the Philippines as Yolanda.
The storm killed more than 6,000 people in the Philippines and caused widespread damage.
Image source, The Freeman
Image source, The Freeman
Image source, EPAHundreds of aftershocks have jolted Cebu since the deadly earthquake struck last night.
At least 225 such tremors had been recorded as of 09:19 today (01:19 GMT), with most of them hitting Bogo City, according to Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.
Here you'll see residents in Bantayan, an island north of Cebu, inspecting the rubble with flashlights after the quake.
Watch: Locals inspect rubble in Bantayan after earthquake
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has put out a statement urging people to remain alert and cooperate with local authorities. Marcos says authorities are working to restore electricity and more staff are being deployed to local hospitals.
"My heart goes out to the families who lost loved ones, and my prayers are with the injured and all those affected by the earthquake," he said.
The situation outside this hospital in Bogo is chaotic, as patients are being treated in wheelchairs and hospital beds outside the building.
Tents have been set up, while doctors and nurses are rushing to attend to those injured.
Watch: Patients treated outside of Bogo City hospital after earthquake
Virma Simonette
Reporting from Manila
Doods Demape, a photographer in the town of Medellin, said that power and water supplies were cut off last night as the earthquake hit Cebu.
"Our house was like dancing last night. We panicked and immediately went outside," he told the BBC.
"Children were traumatised. They kept on crying,"
Medellin residents slept out on the streets last night, as advised by their local authorities.
Several bridges and streets in the town are now inaccessible, Demape said.
Image source, Doods DemapeThe earthquake has damaged many homes in Demape's neighbourhood
The earthquake has also rattled the Miss Asia Pacific International beauty pageant in Cebu.
You'll see in this video contestants scurrying off the stage in thyeir high heels and ornate Filipiñana or traditional Philippine dresses.
Watch: Moment earthquake rattles gala in Cebu City
We are hearing from Cebu locals who witnessed last night's earthquake. Archel Coraza recalls how the ground shook violently. He lives in the island town of Pilar, which is closer to the epicentre compared to the rest of the province.
"I was on the street in front of our home. When the earthquake struck, I saw our house shaking and I got dizzy. The streets also shook," he tells Manila radio station DZMM.
"My brother was on a hammock and he couldn't believe that there was an earthquake until he got off the hammock and stood up," he says.
"We all moved out of our house and are now staying on the street."
"Now, we are taking turns keeping watch on the waves."
Cebu's government has now declared that the entire province is under a state of calamity.
Classes have been suspended throughout the province.
More towns and cities have now declared a state of calamity. Among them are Bogo, San Remigio, Tabuelan and Medellin. All four areas have reported deaths from the earthquake.
Telecommunications have also gone down in Bogo, San Remigio, and Daanbantayan.
Bogo, the city about 17km from the earthquake's epicentre, has also declared a state of calamity. Bogo has so far seen the highest toll, with 19 deaths and 119 people injured.
As we reported earlier, 26 people have been killed across the country, according to the national disaster agency.
Virma Simonette
Reporting from Manila
The municipality of San Remigio has declared a state of calamity, with search and rescue operations ongoing in a sports complex where several people have been trapped by debris.
A basketball game was ongoing when the earthquake struck, an emergency response official told the BBC. Almost 20 people at the game were sent to the hospital, while at least one has died.
Image source, Getty ImagesRescuers inspect damage at the sports complex
This is the moment homes and shops were shaken by the earthquake which jolted off the coast of central Philippines on Tuesday morning.
People are seen clinging to one another along a street in Cebu City and animals running in disarray.
Watch: People cling to each other in Cebu City street as earthquake hits
Cebu's archbishop has ordered a structural assessment for all churches and rectories.
Rev Alberto S Uy has also asked parisioners in the north of the province to refrain from using their churches for mass until proper assessments have been conducted and the premises declared safe for use.
Cebu was one of the first islands in the Philippines to be colonised by Spain in the 1500s, and houses many old churches - which makes this call for people to stay away quite significant.
"We continue to pray to our Loving Father for calmness and strength in the midst of these trials," Rev Uy said in a statement.
"May the Lord shelter us under His wings, protect us from every harm, and guide us to safety and peace."
Image source, Archdiocesan Shrine of Santa Rosa de Lima FacebookThe Archdiocesan Shrine of Santa Rosa de Lima are among the Catholic religious structures damaged by the quake
Here's a look at the situation outside a hospital in the city of Bogo this morning. Those seeking treatment after the quake as well as other patients are being treated outside the building as aftershocks are still happening.
The epicentre of the earthquake was about 17km (10.6 mi) northeast of Bogo.
Image source, PTV CebuA injured man getting support from two paramedics
Image source, PTV CebuPatients are being treated outside as aftershocks are still happening
Image source, PTV CebuPeople crowding outside the building
Image source, Getty ImagesMeanwhile rescuers inspect the damage in San Remigio, a town about 15km from Bogo
Cebu provincial governor Pamela Baricuatro has arrived in the coastal city of Bogo and will lead the setting up of an operations centre for relief and emergency efforts.
The centre will provide food, medicine, and equipment for Bogo and its neighboring towns affected by the 6.7 magnitude earthquake that hit last night, Cebu's provincial officials said on its Facebook page.
Image source, Cebu Province FacebookThis infographic shows you where Tuesday night's earthquake hit, in the northern tip of Cebu island in central Philippines.
Image source, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and SeismologyThe death toll has risen to 26, while 147 others are injured, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
The earthquake hit the northern tip of Cebu island in the central Philippines, a region also known as the Visayas islands.
It struck north-east of the coastal city of Bogo, around two hours by car from the provincial capital, also called Cebu.
Cebu is the economic and political center of the Visayas, home to an international airport and its sea ports connect carto and commuters to country's main islands.
Like most of the Visayas it is also home to white sand tourist beaches, diverse wildlife, and century-old Catholic churches.
Its residents, the Cebuanos, take pride in their own language and regional culture that is distinct from the capital, Manila.
Cebu Governor's Office has released initial photographs of damage from the earthquake last night.
We expect more photos to start coming through later in the morning.
Image source, CEBU GOVERNOR'S OFFICE/HANDOUT
Image source, CEBU GOVERNOR'S OFFICE/HANDOUT
Image source, CEBU GOVERNOR'S OFFICE/HANDOUT
Image source, CEBU GOVERNOR'S OFFICE/HANDOUT