By Ma. Cristina Lao
A 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit Cebu and Bohol provinces on October 15, 2013, Tuesday at 8:13 a.m. I was suddenly awoken by a loud shaking tremor and woke up my children and run down the stairs to the outside of our house. When this kind of calamity strikes you cannot bring or prepare anything. The only thing that comes to your mind is your kids and family and just go to a safer area. When we were outside I saw my neighbors all scared and shocked as all of us were standing in front of our shaking apartment. We cannot run anywhere, we were trapped. The building beside our apartment, a few meters away, was shaking horizontally and we cannot run outside because that building is our exit. My mother was on her knees praying loudly asking for God's forgiveness. I felt I had to remain calm because my mom is really in shock. I have to hug her and my children. It lasted for about 30-40 seconds, but everything seems like slow motion, it seems like it was forever. I just want the shaking to stop.
As it stopped, I realized that my husband is at work and his office is on the 9th floor of a building. Oh my God! Please keep him safe. I suddenly run inside the house and looked for my cell phone and called him but he can't be reached. I was shaking and very cold. Then my children and mom went outside to the road. All my neighbors were there for safety. In case the big building collapses. I need to get inside the house and bring some important documents, cell phone, money. Then I saw my two kids getting back into the house and they were also packing their own things. My older son, 11 years old, prepared clothes, canned goods, water, flashlight, cell phone and charger. My younger son 8 years old brought with him his school bag, water and a necklace that I just bought a few weeks ago. An hour later my husband called and he is safe.
It was a national holiday at that time, so there's no school. If it was school time, it could be very dangerous and very traumatizing for all the parents and kids.
This earthquake is not the first that I have encountered but this is the strongest I have ever experienced. As of this moment October 17 at 1:05am, more than 24 hours later, another aftershock is felt (lasting about 10-15 seconds). Oh Lord, please keep us all safe.
All pictures were taken after the earthquake. No time to take pictures during the quake. Other areas were not so lucky. A market, church and several buildings had collapsed within a few kilometers away.
I was standing exactly at this spot looking at this shaking building.
All the occupants of these apartments were trapped in this narrow area.
We were surrounded by a wall of hollow blocks so there's no way out, but through that shaking building.
Aftermath of the quake. The building entrance.
cracked hollowblock walls
Our entrance and exit is through this path, under the building.
rubbles of cement
Other areas in Cebu and Bohol. The earthquake aftermath.
Boyscouts of the Philippines packing relief goods.
One of the schools in Cebu. Imagine if the quake happened on a non holiday.
Chocolate Hills, Bohol
Cebu Municipal Hall
Packing relief goods, lots of water.
Inside a public school classroom
The roof of the school
Cebu Church
Impassable road in Loon, Bohol.
Sinkhall in Bohol after the quake
The patients were taken out of the hospitals and transferred on the streets and inside this basketball court.
Landslide in Bohol
Landslide
Collapsed bridge in Bohol.
Instead of the bridge people banca's are used to transfer people to the other side.
People of Bohol needs food and water.
Camping outside because of aftershocks.
President Aquino in Loon, Bohol, giving away relief goods.
Cebuano's preparing rice, water and relief goods for transport to Bohol. A ship transports these goods 2-3 times a day to Tagbilaran City, which is Bohol's main city. Some secluded areas are impassable, without electricity and has run out of water and food.
