Following the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck northern Cebu on the night of September 30, 2025, several residents of Sitio Pandan Mahawak in Medellin were forced to sleep outdoors, wrapping themselves in plastic bags to shield against rain and cold.
Local resident Arguel Escalicas shared in an interview with Bombo Radyo Vigan that his family evacuated to nearby farmland after authorities advised them not to return to their homes due to structural risks and ongoing aftershocks.
Escalicas recounted that the quake hit while he was inside their house, prompting him to wake his relatives and flee with only a cellphone to light their path.
With no tents or proper shelter, the family endured two nights in the open, and when rain fell at dawn, they resorted to using plastic bags to stay dry.
Photos published by PhilNews and BusinessMirror show families, including children and the elderly, wrapped in plastic under the night sky, with limited access to food, water, and medical aid.
Medellin Mayor Edwin Salimbangon confirmed that hundreds of families remain displaced, with many too traumatized to return home, as reported by Rappler.
The Cebu Provincial Government has dispatched thousands of food packs and opened drop-off sites for donations, but residents say relief is slow to reach remote areas.
Despite the ordeal, Escalicas expressed gratitude that no one in his family was harmed and that their home only sustained partial damage.
He admitted that every aftershock rekindles fear, making it difficult for survivors to rest or feel safe.