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Earthquake strikes Mindanao, leaving at least 32 dead
A powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Mindanao in the southern Philippines early Monday, killing at least 32 people and injuring over 100, authorities said. The quake, recorded at 07:37 local time (23:37 GMT Sunday), triggered tsunami warnings across the Pacific, though most were later lifted.
Casualties and damage reported across affected regions
The national disaster agency is still verifying casualty figures, which are expected to rise as reports from local authorities are compiled. In Sarangani province, near the quake's epicenter, 17 deaths were confirmed, many caused by a landslide. Power and communication networks were temporarily disrupted but later restored.
In General Santos, the city closest to the epicenter, 10 people died, and 22 remain missing, according to the Office of Civil Defense. The city, known as the Philippines' tuna capital and the hometown of boxing legend-turned-politician Manny Pacquiao, suffered significant structural damage. Neighboring provinces South Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat also reported casualties and destruction.
Evacuations and government response
More than 10,000 residents were evacuated as a precautionary measure. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. assured that national agencies were coordinating disaster relief efforts, pledging, "The national government is moving, and we will not leave Mindanao behind."
Marcos also ordered the suspension of classes in affected areas, coinciding with the first day of the school year. A viral video from a primary school in Davao Occidental showed students crouching on the ground as the earth shook, with a nearby shelter collapsing. Fortunately, no injuries were reported at the school.
Tsunami alerts and aftershocks
The quake prompted tsunami warnings in the Philippines, Indonesia, Japan, and Australia. Japan initially warned of waves up to one meter high, though only minor surges were later recorded-20 cm in the Ogasawara Islands and a few centimeters in Okinawa. Indonesia, Palau, and the Philippines also detected small waves, ranging from centimeters to 1.4 meters in height.
Over 130 aftershocks, with magnitudes between 1.3 and 6.7, have been recorded since the initial quake, raising concerns about further damage.
Philippines' seismic vulnerability
The Philippines lies on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," making it prone to frequent earthquakes. While most are minor, some have been devastating. Last September, a 6.9-magnitude quake in the central Visayas region killed over 70 people.
Officials continue to assess the full extent of Monday's disaster, with rescue and relief operations underway.
