Powerful Philippines earthquake kills 35, displaces thousands across Mindanao

Magnitude-7.8 quake triggers tsunami alerts, causes widespread destruction, injuries, and mass displacement in southern Philippines.

MANILA: At least 35 people were killed and more than 130 injured after a powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Mindanao in the southern Philippines on Monday, causing widespread damage, landslides, and the displacement of thousands of residents.

According to the Philippine Office of Civil Defense, 31 deaths were reported in the Soccsksargen region, while four fatalities occurred in Davao. Authorities also reported that approximately 10,000 families have been displaced, while several people remain missing.

The earthquake struck at 7:37 a.m. local time, prompting tsunami warnings across the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, and Australia. The alerts were later downgraded or lifted after assessments showed no major tsunami threat.

Images and videos shared on social media showed extensive damage to buildings and infrastructure. One widely circulated video captured a collapsed Jollibee restaurant, while landslides were reported in several affected areas.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said government agencies had been mobilized to coordinate emergency response and relief operations.

“The national government is moving and we will not leave Mindanao behind,” the president said, while ordering the suspension of classes in affected areas.

The earthquake coincided with the first day of the school year in the Philippines. Videos from schools in affected provinces showed students taking cover as buildings and shelters shook violently. Local officials reported no casualties in some of the schools shown in the footage.

Seismologists recorded more than 130 aftershocks following the main quake, ranging in magnitude from 1.3 to 6.7. A separate magnitude-5.7 earthquake was also reported off Balut Island later in the day.

Mindanao, the country’s second-largest island and home to approximately 26 million people, experienced the strongest shaking. Disaster authorities continue to assess damage and verify casualty figures.

The Philippines is located along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a region known for frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity. While many quakes are minor, powerful seismic events have previously caused significant loss of life and property damage.

Authorities in Japan reported minor tsunami waves reaching parts of Okinawa and the Ogasawara Islands, while smaller waves were also detected along the coasts of Indonesia, Palau, and the Philippines.

Rescue and recovery operations remain underway as emergency teams continue searching affected areas and providing assistance to displaced communities.