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Several nights in the wake of a magnitude 6.9 tremor struck her hometown in the heartland country, Arguel Estalicas says she still senses lightheaded everytime she gets to her feet.

That whirling feeling, combined with a string of aftershocks, has left the 35-year-old tourism officer and countless other victims too frightened to go back to their homes, compelling them to reside in makeshift accommodations for now.

The seismic activity rattled the north coast of Cebu, one of the land's most densely inhabited islands, on the night of 30 September, startling many during their rest.

It claimed the lives of at least 72 people and injured 300 others, as dwellings, structures and places of worship fell down and roads fractured.

I still couldn't process what has happened to us. I am overcome with the events we experienced in the last two days.

The 35-year-old dwells in Medellin town, near the earthquake's epicenter. Disaster response personnel report the seismic event displaced about 40,000 people across Cebu, a important business and travel hub in the middle Philippines.

She explained she exited bed yelling when the earthquake hit and rushed outdoors with her loved ones.

They spent the night under the stars, but when a gentle rain fell, Ms Estalicas and her household enveloped themselves up in plastic bags because they did not have waterproof clothing.

Images on online platforms displayed them slouched on temporary seats, swathed in plastic bags steamed up by their exhalation.

Food, Hydration and Gasoline Required

The Philippines is prone to environmental catastrophes. It is positioned on the geologically unstable "Ring of Fire" - so called because of the significant amount of tremors and volcanoes that happen here.

The Cebu quake on Tuesday is one of the most powerful and most fatal in the past few years. In 2013, a 7.2-strength tremor in nearby Bohol island caused the death of over 200 persons and wrecked ancient churches.

On Thursday, rescuers combed through rubble as officials worked to deliver supplies, reestablish energy and connectivity lines, and clean up streets of debris.

The Philippine armed forces has deployed soldiers to help maintain calm during relief efforts.

However, basic needs continue to be a critical problem for many.

Visual journalist Doods Demape decided on Thursday to make a lengthy trip from Medellin to the regional center to purchase goods since no supermarkets were open.

Mr Demape mentions he had trouble to locate a fuel outlet that was not swamped with lengthy lines.

Nearly all streets are now navigable so supplies are now arriving from the city. But immediate supplies like water and sustenance, notably for the minors are not yet obtainable.

In Bogo city, the earthquake's epicentre, local media indicate body bags lined on the avenue in front of improvised medical facilities where the injured are being treated.

This current quake happens in the middle of a intense cyclone season. Two back-to-back tempests inundated wide regions of the nation a week before.

Widespread inundations from those storms and prior seasonal rains have ignited public anger and caused street protests.

Cebu is especially vulnerable to storms. It is situated on the common path of storms that form over the Pacific.

The area's northern region, the epicentre of Tuesday's earthquake, was affected by Super Typhoon Haiyan in 2013. That typhoon killed over 6,000 individuals in the complete central region.

Among the various buildings damaged by Tuesday's earthquake was a housing project for affected individuals of Haiyan.

Regardless of their present challenges, Cebu residents like Ms Estalicas and Mr Pareja are hopeful that they could survive the quake, as they did after Haiyan and the calamities before it.

They state affected individuals are supporting each other, what Filipinos call bayanihan or mutual solidarity.

My only prayer is that help won't be postponed - and that neighbouring localities will also be accounted for and encompassed in these aid operations.