By Paul Joseph
At least 35 people have been confirmed dead after a powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of the southern Philippines on Monday, triggering tsunami alerts across several countries in the Asia-Pacific region.
The earthquake occurred at 7:37 a.m. local time near the island of Mindanao, the Philippines’ second-largest island, causing widespread destruction, injuries, and displacement of thousands of residents.
According to the Philippines’ Office of Civil Defense, 31 deaths were recorded in the Soccsksargen region, while four fatalities were reported in the Davao area.
Authorities also said at least 134 people sustained injuries, while about 10,000 families were displaced by the disaster.
Earlier reports indicated that 12 people remained missing as rescue and recovery operations continued in affected communities.
Images and videos circulating online showed significant structural damage, including the collapse of a popular Jollibee fast-food restaurant.
Several landslides were also reported across parts of Mindanao following the quake.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. assured citizens that government agencies were actively coordinating emergency response efforts.
“The national government is moving and we will not leave Mindanao behind,” the president said in a statement.
Authorities also ordered the suspension of classes in affected areas, as the earthquake struck on the first day of the new school year.
Footage from schools in Davao Occidental showed frightened students taking cover as buildings shook violently. One video captured the collapse of a shelter structure, although no injuries were reported at the school.
Seismologists recorded more than 130 aftershocks following the main earthquake, with magnitudes ranging from 1.3 to 6.7. A separate 5.7-magnitude offshore tremor was later recorded near Balut Island in Sarangani province.
The quake prompted tsunami warnings in the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, and Australia.
While most alerts were later downgraded or cancelled, authorities reported small tsunami waves reaching parts of Japan, Indonesia, Palau, and the Philippines. Wave heights ranged from a few centimetres to as much as 1.4 metres in some coastal areas.
The Philippines lies along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” one of the world’s most seismically active regions, making earthquakes and volcanic activity common occurrences.
While many tremors are minor, stronger earthquakes have repeatedly caused significant loss of life and property damage across the archipelago.
Emergency teams continue search-and-rescue operations as authorities assess the full extent of the devastation caused by the disaster.
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