A powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck the Mindanao region in southern Philippines on Monday, leaving at least 19 people dead, injuring more than 200 others, and causing widespread destruction across several communities.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake occurred at about 7:37 a.m. local time at a depth of approximately 35 kilometres (21.7 miles). The agency described the tremor as “notable.”
The earthquake triggered panic across affected areas as buildings collapsed, emergency sirens sounded, and residents rushed to safety.
Disaster authorities confirmed that at least 19 people lost their lives in the disaster, while more than 200 sustained injuries. Among the fatalities, 13 people were reportedly killed in a landslide triggered by the earthquake in Sarangani Province.
The Philippines lies along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a region known for frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity. The country, alongside Indonesia and Japan, regularly experiences seismic events due to its location on major tectonic fault lines.
The epicentre of Monday’s earthquake was located off the coast near General Santos City in Sarangani Province, situated at the southern tip of Mindanao Island, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.
Following the initial quake, authorities recorded at least 138 aftershocks and warned residents to remain alert for additional seismic activity near the epicentre.
Images released by local authorities in General Santos City, home to approximately 720,000 residents, showed collapsed convenience stores, damaged structures, and large slabs of concrete scattered across affected areas.
The earthquake also disrupted activities in schools as students were forced to seek safety when the tremors struck during the first day of the new academic year.
Videos circulating on social media showed frightened elementary school pupils crouching outdoors while the ground shook violently beneath them in Davao Occidental Province.
Additional footage revealed a collapsed roof at a high school campus in Davao del Sur, where students had gathered for morning activities. No injuries were reported in either incident.
In Davao City, emergency officials said more than 100 students sustained minor bruises, while several others fainted during the panic caused by the earthquake.
An academic official in General Santos City recounted the terrifying experience, saying he sought refuge beneath a table inside a university building.
“I had to duck and shelter myself under the table,” the president of Notre Dame of Dadiangas University told Reuters.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he had directed all relevant government agencies to immediately begin evacuation and rescue operations.
“To our kababayans (countrymen) in the affected provinces, please heed the tsunami warning. Move to higher ground now. Do not wait. Your life is more important than anything left behind,” he said in a statement.
The earthquake also caused structural damage in several areas. Matanao National High School, which had previously suffered damage from earthquakes in 2019, reportedly collapsed during the latest tremor.
Police officials in Sarangani said government buildings also sustained cracks, though there were no immediate reports of casualties in their area.
“This is the strongest earthquake we’ve experienced,” Alabel police chief Benjie Ancheta told Reuters.
The tremors were felt beyond the Philippines, reaching parts of Indonesia, including North Sulawesi Province.
The earthquake also triggered tsunami alerts across the region, with smaller waves recorded in Indonesia, Palau, and southern Japan. However, authorities confirmed that no tsunami threat was detected in Hawaii.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center later announced that the major tsunami threat had largely passed about five hours after the earthquake, although residents were advised to remain cautious and continue following guidance from local authorities as sea levels could still fluctuate.
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