A glam night turned into a scene of panic, chaos, and fear as contestants of the Miss Asia-Pacific International 2025 pageant scrambled off the ramp when a massive earthquake struck mid-event during the Gala Night in Cebu, Philippines. The 6.9-magnitude earthquake hit just before 10.00 pm on Tuesday, jolting the Radisson Blu Cebu hotel where the pageant was being held. In the viral video, contestants were seen being rushed off the stage as chandeliers swayed violently. Watch here: View this post on Instagram A post shared by 𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 (@pageantempress) The video quickly gained traction, evoking safety concerns during such beauty pageants and highlighting a lack of a stage crew. "This genuinely so scary, hoping the participants, org, and people of Cebu are safe," a user wrote. "Our deepest condolences for the earthquake that occurred in the Philippines. May all be under God's protection, Amen," another user commented. "OMG for a quite long seconds the ladies struggle to get off the stage. please recruit more stage crew to ensure their safety," a third user reacted. The epicenter of the earthquake was located off the northeast coast of Cebu province, near Bogo, approximately two to three hours from Cebu City, the BBC reported. The disaster claimed the lives of at least 69 people and injured over 150, according to local authorities. Power outages, collapsed buildings, and buckled roads have been reported across the region. Images and videos on social media display the extent of the destruction, such as cracked highways, collapsed structures, and more. As the nation endures the impact, rescue teams continue to search for survivors under the rubble. Meanwhile, the Miss Asia-Pacific International organisation has postponed all remaining events and expressed solidarity with the victims, stating, "Our hearts go out to everyone affected by this tragic event. We are grateful all our contestants are safe and accounted for, but we mourn with the communities experiencing such loss."
