Reports say at least 37 people have been confirmed dead, hundreds injured, and about 32,000 displaced following a powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck the Philippines.
The earthquake hit General Santos City in Mindanao, the country’s main southern island, on Monday, causing widespread destruction and forcing thousands of residents to flee their homes.
According to officials, the death toll may still rise as search and rescue operations continue across affected communities.
“We hope the death toll does not increase further, but we are expecting it to move. Our priority today is search and rescue,” said Bernardo Alejandro, assistant secretary of the agency overseeing disaster response, in an interview with DZMM Radio.
Preliminary government assessments indicate that about 2,500 houses, 6,000 schools, and 117 government buildings were damaged across several provinces.
The earthquake, described as one of the most destructive in recent years, also forced the shutdown of the international airport in General Santos City, leading to the cancellation of about 63 domestic flights.
In response, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the suspension of classes in all affected areas of Mindanao until further notice.
“The safety of our children comes first. DepEd will coordinate with local government units on this,” Marcos said.
Authorities say emergency teams remain on the ground, with priority given to rescue operations, medical response, and the assessment of structural damage across affected regions.
