A powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck the southern Philippines on Monday morning, leaving a trail of destruction and claiming at least 37 lives. The quake, one of the strongest to hit the country in half a century, also displaced more than 32,000 people, according to officials.
Rescue Efforts Underway
Rescuers continued to search through ruined buildings on Tuesday to ensure no one remained trapped. The Office of Civil Defense reported that only four people were officially listed as missing, but acknowledged that several collapsed and heavily damaged structures required thorough inspection for possible survivors or casualties.
Impact on Mindanao
The earthquake, centered off Mindanao, the second most populous island in the Philippines, injured nearly 500 people. Many residents fled their homes fearing a tsunami. Waves up to 1.4 meters (4.6 feet) above tide level were measured, but the only reported tsunami damage was to six shanties on stilts in a coastal village. Smaller waves also reached Indonesia, Palau, and as far as southern Japan.
Deaths and Damage
Landslides and building collapses caused several deaths. In General Santos, a coastal city of over 700,000 people known as the country's tuna capital, at least 13 people died due to collapsed buildings and falling debris. In Sarangani province, at least 18 died, mostly in a landslide that buried houses in the mountainside town of Glan, according to Rafaelito Alejandro of the Office of Civil Defense. Other deaths were reported in South Cotabato, Davao Occidental, and on Balut Island.
Approximately 2,500 houses and 117 government buildings and facilities were damaged across several provinces, according to an initial government assessment. The international airport in General Santos remained closed for a second day, forcing the cancellation of 63 domestic flights except for humanitarian missions.
Schools Affected
About 6,000 public school buildings in quake-hit provinces must be assessed before classes can resume. The earthquake struck on the first day of classes after a two-month summer break, and many of the injured were young students gathered for morning flag-raising ceremonies. Alejandro warned that buildings with cracks could collapse due to aftershocks, some of which have been dangerously powerful. He emphasized, "We cannot force the immediate reopening of schools because we have to ensure the integrity of the buildings."
Historical Context
Monday's earthquake, centered at sea at a depth of 33 kilometers (20 miles) and about 32 kilometers (20 miles) southwest of Maasim town in Sarangani province, was triggered by movement in the Cotabato Trench. It was the strongest since the same undersea depression caused an 8.1-magnitude quake and tsunami on August 17, 1976, which killed about 8,000 people. Teresito Bacolcol, director of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, noted that the institute plans to commemorate the anniversary of that disaster by installing markers to remind vulnerable areas of the need for vigilance. A 1990 earthquake of magnitude 7.8 also left over 1,000 dead in northern provinces.
Government Response
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. deployed top defense and mitigation officials from Manila to oversee search and rescue operations, distribution of tens of thousands of food packs and construction materials, and assessment of damage to bridges, roads, and other infrastructure. The United States, a treaty ally, coordinated with Manila and offered support, while France, Japan, and New Zealand also expressed readiness to assist.
The Philippines, located on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," is frequently hit by earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. The archipelago also experiences about 20 typhoons and tropical storms annually, making it one of the world's most disaster-prone countries.
