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A couple of days in the wake of a intensity 6.9 seismic event struck her native town in the heartland Philippines, Arguel Estalicas states she still senses lightheaded everytime she stands up.

That whirling feeling, combined with a succession of aftershocks, has left the 35-year-old travel official and numerous other victims too scared to go back to their houses, obliging them to stay in temporary shelters for now.

The earthquake rattled the northern coast of Cebu, one of the country's most populous islands, on the late hours of 30 September, awakening many out of their slumber.

It claimed the lives of at least 72 persons and injured 300 others, as houses, structures and religious sites caved in and streets cracked.

I'm still struggling to comprehend what has transpired to us. I am overcome with the events we went through in the previous two days.

The 35-year-old resides in Medellin town, in proximity to the earthquake's origin point. Relief officials report the seismic event forced out about 40,000 residents all over Cebu, a significant business and transit nexus in the heartland Philippines.

She explained she exited bed shouting when the tremor hit and ran outside with her relatives.

They rested under the open sky, but when a light drizzle fell, Ms Estalicas and her kin enveloped themselves up in transparent covers because they did not have protective gear.

Photos on online platforms showed them positioned on plastic chairs, swathed in covering material clouded over by their breath.

Food, Water and Fuel In Demand

The Philippines is susceptible to environmental catastrophes. It is located on the seismically active "Ring of Fire" - so named because of the large quantity of tremors and volcanic mountains that happen here.

The Cebu seismic event on Tuesday is among the most intense and deadliest in recent years. In 2013, a 7.2-magnitude earthquake in adjacent Bohol island killed over 200 people and demolished historic churches.

On Thursday, rescuers scoured through wreckage as officials worked to distribute food, reestablish energy and telecommunication lines, and clean up roads of rubble.

The Philippine armed forces has sent personnel to assist preserve stability during rescue missions.

However, essential items are still a pressing problem for many.

Visual journalist Doods Demape decided on Thursday to make a lengthy journey from Medellin to the regional center to purchase goods since no grocery stores were operating.

Mr Demape explains he had trouble to find a gas station that was not overwhelmed with lengthy lines.

Most streets are now accessible so supplies are now reaching from the city. But urgent essentials like water and nourishment, particularly for the children are not yet available.

In Bogo city, the tremor's origin point, regional news show remains containers lined on the road in front of makeshift treatment centers where the hurt are being cared for.

This current quake happens in the middle of a powerful typhoon season. Two back-to-back storms submerged large swathes of the country a seven days before.

Extensive deluges from those weather events and previous seasonal rains have stirred civil discontent and sparked public demonstrations.

Cebu is particularly susceptible to typhoons. It lies on the general trajectory of tempests that originate over the Pacific.

The region's north region, the epicenter of Tuesday's quake, was struck by Super Typhoon Haiyan in 2013. That weather event claimed the lives of over 6,000 individuals in the complete heartland region.

Among the various structures affected by Tuesday's quake was a housing project for victims of Haiyan.

Regardless of their current difficulties, Cebu locals like Ms Estalicas and Mr Pareja are hopeful that they could overcome the earthquake, as they did after Haiyan and the crises before it.

They state survivors are helping each other, what Filipinos call bayanihan or community spirit.

My main wish is that assistance won't be slowed - and that neighbouring towns will also be included and encompassed in these relief efforts.