GENERAL SANTOS, Philippines — Rescue teams in the southern Philippines continued searching damaged and collapsed structures on Tuesday, a day after a powerful offshore earthquake killed at least 37 people, injured nearly 500 others, and displaced more than 32,000 residents across affected provinces.
Authorities said only four people remained officially listed as missing, but warned that extensive structural damage in multiple towns and cities requires thorough inspection to ensure no victims remain trapped beneath debris.
The magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck off the coast of Mindanao on Monday morning, triggering panic across southern regions and forcing thousands into evacuation centers amid fears of a possible tsunami. Small tsunami waves were recorded, but only minor structural damage was reported in coastal areas, including several stilt houses in a village along the shoreline.
General Santos City, a major urban center with a population of more than 700,000, reported at least 13 fatalities linked to collapsed buildings and falling debris. Disaster officials also confirmed at least 18 deaths in Sarangani province, most of them caused by a landslide that buried homes in the town of Glan.
Additional fatalities were reported in South Cotabato, Davao Occidental, and Balut Island, according to the Office of Civil Defense.
Initial government assessments show widespread infrastructure damage, including approximately 2,500 houses and more than 100 government buildings and facilities across multiple provinces. The General Santos international airport remained closed for a second day, resulting in the cancellation of dozens of domestic flights, except those carrying humanitarian assistance.
Officials cautioned that aftershocks could further weaken already damaged structures. Schools and other public facilities with visible cracks remain closed pending safety inspections.
“We cannot force the immediate reopening of schools because we have to ensure the integrity of the buildings,” disaster official Rafaelito Alejandro said.
The earthquake originated at a depth of 33 kilometers along the Cotabato Trench, a known seismic zone. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said it was the strongest tremor in the region in decades, comparable to major historical earthquakes that have previously caused widespread devastation in the country.
The Philippines lies along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” making it highly vulnerable to earthquakes, volcanic activity, and tsunamis. The country also experiences frequent tropical storms, compounding risks for disaster-affected communities.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has deployed senior disaster response officials to coordinate search and rescue operations and oversee the distribution of relief goods and emergency shelter materials.
International partners, including the United States, France, Japan, and New Zealand, have expressed readiness to assist in ongoing response efforts.
Authorities said search and recovery operations will continue as structural assessments expand across affected provinces in the coming days.
Carlo Juancho FuntanillaFrontend Developer, WordPress, Shopify
Contributing Editor
AMA ACLC San Pablo
- Carlo Juancho Funtanilla
- Carlo Juancho Funtanilla
- Carlo Juancho Funtanilla
- Carlo Juancho Funtanilla
