Powerful Philippines earthquake leaves 32 feared dead as tsunami warnings lifted

Manila: At least 32 people are feared dead and dozens injured after a powerful magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck off the southern Philippine island of Mindanao on Monday, officials said, as search and rescue operations intensify. The quake hit early in the morning around 20 km off Sarangani province, with strong tremors felt across Mindanao and as far as the Indonesian city of Manado, approximately 420 km away. Civil defence officials said authorities are verifying reports of 32 fatalities and at least 134 people injured, most of them caused by falling debris and landslides. Tsunami alerts lifted Tsunami warnings issued across several countries were lifted after more than six hours, including in the southern Philippines, northern Indonesia and Malaysia’s Sabah state on Borneo island. Earlier, residents in coastal areas had been urged to evacuate to higher ground. Emergency response mobilised The Philippine government has deployed military and disaster response teams and moved quickly to prepare relief supplies and evacuation centres. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr ordered an immediate response, stating: “The national government is moving and we will not leave Mindanao behind.” Damage and impact The full extent of the damage is still being assessed, but General Santos City, with a population of around 700,000, was among the hardest-hit areas. Buildings and shops suffered significant damage, with some reduced to rubble. Video footage shared by local authorities showed the collapse of a building housing a fast-food restaurant, sending a cloud of dust into the air and prompting people nearby to flee. A hospital in General Santos was evacuated due to structural concerns, while a building at Notre Dame of Dadiangas University collapsed, though no casualties were reported at that location. Eyewitness Manuel de Leon, president of the university, told local media: “I had to duck and shelter under a table. It was very long and strong.” Aftershocks continue The Philippine seismology agency reported more than 200 aftershocks, including at least nine that were strongly felt, with the most powerful reaching magnitude 6.7. The earthquake struck as schools were reopening, with footage showing students seeking shelter before evacuating buildings. Regional impact The quake was felt strongly in parts of northern Indonesia, where residents moved to higher ground amid tsunami fears. Minor damage was reported in some areas, while a tsunami wave of up to 0.75 metres was detected in parts of North Sulawesi. Japan also issued an advisory, reporting minor sea level changes and precautionary measures such as ferry disruptions and beach closures. Seismic risk zone Both the Philippines and Indonesia lie along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a seismically active region prone to frequent earthquakes. The disaster follows a deadly earthquake eight months earlier, when a magnitude 6.9 tremor struck off Cebu, killing 79 people. Authorities continue to monitor aftershocks and assess damage as rescue and relief efforts remain underway.