A powerful magnitude-7.8 earthquake off the coast of Mindanao in the southern Philippines has killed at least 32 people, with rescue teams continuing search and relief operations amid fears the toll could rise.
The quake struck at 07:37 local time on Monday, triggering tsunami warnings across the Philippines and prompting alerts in neighbouring countries including Indonesia, Japan and Australia. Several of the warnings were later lifted after only minor wave activity was detected.
Authorities say more than 100 people have been injured, while nearly two dozen remain missing. Around 10,000 residents were evacuated from coastal and high-risk areas as aftershocks continued to rattle the region, with more than 130 tremors recorded.
The hardest-hit areas include Sarangani province and General Santos city, where landslides and collapsed structures caused significant casualties. Local officials reported 17 deaths in Sarangani, many linked to landslides, while another 10 were confirmed in General Santos. Other provinces, including South Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat, also reported extensive damage.
Images and videos from affected communities showed widespread destruction, including collapsed buildings such as a Jollibee restaurant reduced to rubble, damaged roads, and emergency crews working through debris in search of survivors.
The earthquake struck on the first day of the school year in parts of the Philippines, prompting the suspension of classes. In some areas, students were seen evacuating classrooms as buildings shook violently.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has directed national agencies to coordinate a full disaster response, assuring affected communities of government support as emergency operations continue.
The Philippines, located along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” is highly prone to seismic activity, and officials warn that further aftershocks remain possible as assessments of the full scale of damage continue.
