Daijiworld Media Network - Manila
Manila, Jun 8: At least 32 people lost their lives and more than 130 others were injured after a powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Sarangani province in the southern Philippines on Monday morning, causing widespread destruction, disrupting transportation services and prompting temporary tsunami warnings across the region.
The earthquake, which struck near the island of Mindanao at around 7:37 a.m. local time, triggered panic among residents as buildings shook violently and debris fell across several affected areas. Authorities said the fatalities were caused by building collapses, falling structures and landslides triggered by the strong tremor.
According to the Philippines' Office of Civil Defence, the hardest-hit areas included General Santos City, where at least 10 deaths were reported. Officials also confirmed that a number of people remain missing as search and rescue operations continue.
Emergency responders and police teams were deployed across affected regions after reports of extensive structural damage to schools, commercial establishments and residential buildings. Several videos circulating online showed collapsed structures and damaged public facilities.
One of the most serious incidents involved the collapse of a two-storey school building in General Santos, where students were reportedly trapped inside. Authorities are continuing efforts to verify the number of casualties and rescue those who may still be trapped.
The powerful quake struck shortly after schools reopened following the summer break. Surveillance footage from educational institutions captured scenes of panic as teachers and students rushed to evacuate classrooms or took shelter under desks during the shaking.
In response, the Department of Education ordered the suspension of classes in affected schools, impacting more than 5,800 students as safety inspections are carried out.
Air travel was also significantly disrupted. General Santos International Airport suspended operations for several hours to allow engineers to inspect airport infrastructure for damage. Three airlines cancelled a total of 17 domestic flights, while aviation authorities restricted airport operations to government, military and humanitarian flights until further notice.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology reported that the earthquake originated at a depth of 33 kilometres beneath the seabed near Mindanao. The agency recorded tsunami waves reaching up to 1.4 metres in height following the quake.
The tremor prompted tsunami alerts in the Philippines, Indonesia and Japan. However, authorities later cancelled all warnings after assessments indicated that the threat had subsided.
Rescue teams, disaster management personnel and local authorities continue to assess the full extent of the damage, while engineers conduct structural inspections of critical infrastructure across the affected region.
The Philippines lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire, one of the world's most seismically active zones, making it particularly vulnerable to earthquakes and volcanic activity. Monday's disaster is among the strongest earthquakes to hit the country in recent years and has renewed concerns about earthquake preparedness and infrastructure resilience in vulnerable regions.