At Least 19 Dead After Powerful 7.8-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Southern Philippines
More than 130 injured as powerful quake triggers tsunami alerts, damages buildings and disrupts services across parts of Mindanao and neighbouring regions
- At least 19 people killed after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit southern Philippines
- More than 130 others injured as buildings collapsed across affected areas
- Tsunami alerts issued in several countries following the powerful tremor
At least 19 people have been killed and more than 130 others injured after a powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Mindanao in the southern Philippines, triggering tsunami alerts across several countries in the Asia-Pacific region.
The earthquake occurred at 7:37 a.m. local time on Monday, prompting authorities in the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, and Australia to issue tsunami warnings. Some of the alerts were later lifted after assessments showed a reduced threat.
Images and videos circulating on social media showed extensive damage, including collapsed buildings. One widely shared video captured a branch of the Jollibee fast-food chain reduced to rubble following the quake.
Local officials reported that at least 134 people were injured across South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani Province, and General Santos City, although authorities are still verifying the figures.
The Philippines’ National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council is expected to release an official casualty and damage assessment after compiling reports from local governments, police, and emergency response agencies.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. assured affected communities that the government was mobilising resources to respond to the disaster.
“The national government is moving, and we will not leave Mindanao behind,” the President said in a statement.
The government also ordered the suspension of classes in affected areas, as the earthquake struck on the first day of the new academic year.
In one video from a primary school in Davao Occidental Province, frightened pupils were seen crouching on shaking ground as a nearby shelter with a corrugated roof collapsed. School authorities later confirmed that no injuries were recorded at the facility.
Seismologists recorded more than 130 aftershocks following the initial earthquake, with magnitudes ranging from 1.3 to 6.7, raising concerns about further damage and risks to residents.
The coastal province of Sarangani experienced temporary disruptions to electricity and communication services, though officials later reported that most systems had been restored.
