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MANILA, Philippines (2nd UPDATE) – Classes in all levels in Cebu and Bohol, both in private and public schools, are suspended on Wednesday, October 16, after a 7.2 earthquake rocked Central Visayas on Tuesday and killed at least 78 people. 

The Department of Education (DepEd) first announced suspension of preschool to highschool classes on its official Twitter account three hours after the quake hit at 8:12 am Tuesday, October 15. Updates in the aftenoon included suspension in the collegiate level.

CEBU PROVINCE | #walangpasok Classes in ALL LEVELS (public & private) are suspended tom, Oct. 16, due to #earthquakePH | via @cebugovph

— DepEd (@DepEd_PH) October 15, 2013

(Update) BOHOL | #walangpasok Classes in ALL LEVELS (public & private) are suspended tom, Oct. 16, due to #earthquakePH | via @dzrhnews

— DepEd (@DepEd_PH) October 15, 2013

The province of Siquijor also suspended classes in all levels for tomorrow.

SIQUIJOR | #walangpasok Classes in ALL LEVELS (public & private) are suspended tomorrow, Oct. 16, due to #earthquakePH | via @dzrhnews

— DepEd (@DepEd_PH) October 15, 2013

Other localized class suspensions:

• Cebu City
• Dumaguete City
  
• Iloilo City – classes in all levels
• La Carlota City – classes in all levels 
• Mandaue City – classes in all levels
• Tagbilaran City
• University of Cebu – classes in all campuses and all levels; graduation ceremonies will push through
• University of the Philippines-Cebu – classes and office work 
• St. Louise University-Cebu – classes in all levels

Aftermath

The quake, felt as far as Davao City, was followed by two aftershocks, each measuring more than 5.0 in magnitude. Local hospitals, century-old churches, and shopping malls were damaged.

As of 2 pm, the Department of Social Welfare and Development has alloted standby resources worth P13,350,562.93 for areas affected by the earthquake, with additional P10 million released for relief assistance to families in Region 7.

Secretary Dinky Soliman said relief operations will be concentrated in Region 7 and some parts of Negros.

“Thank God today is a holiday,” Cebu 6th District Rep Luigi Quisimbing told Rappler. Loss of life and property damage would have been much more if classes and offices were not closed to observe Id-ul-Adha or the Feast of Sacrifice.

Neil Sanchez, head of the Cebu disaster management office said authorities were trying to confirm reports that a school had collapsed, with an undetermined number of children trapped.

“Communication lines are quite difficult here. Even the disaster risk reduction management office has been damaged. We had to move elsewhere,” Sanchez told ABS-CBN television.

DepEd said they are still getting in touch with people in affected areas of Central Visayas to determine whether there are schools that have been damaged by the earthquake. – With reports from Pia Ranada/Rappler.com