Manila, June 8:
At least 32 people were killed and more than 130 injured after a powerful magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Sarangani province in the southern Philippines on Monday morning, triggering widespread damage, disrupting transportation, and forcing the suspension of classes in several areas.
According to the Philippines’ Office of Civil Defence, the earthquake caused extensive destruction across parts of Mindanao, with deaths reported due to collapsing structures, falling debris, and landslides. Authorities said at least 12 people remain missing as rescue and search operations continue.
Junie Castillo, spokesperson for the Office of Civil Defence, said 10 fatalities were reported in General Santos City, a major port city in South Cotabato province with a population of more than 700,000. The Philippine National Police reported that at least 134 people sustained injuries in the disaster.
One of the most alarming incidents occurred in General Santos City, where a two-storey school building collapsed. Authorities said they were verifying reports that students may have been trapped inside the structure. Videos circulating online showed collapsed buildings, damaged commercial establishments, shattered windows, and debris-strewn streets in the affected areas.
Residents rushed outdoors in panic as strong tremors shook homes, offices, schools, and public buildings.
The earthquake struck shortly after schools across the country reopened following the summer vacation. Surveillance footage from educational institutions captured scenes of panic as teachers and students evacuated classrooms or took shelter beneath desks during the intense shaking.
The Department of Education ordered the suspension of classes in affected schools, impacting more than 5,800 students, to ensure safety while structural inspections are carried out.
The disaster also disrupted air travel. Operations at General Santos International Airport were suspended from 8:45 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. local time to facilitate comprehensive safety inspections. Three airlines cancelled a total of 17 domestic flights.
Civil aviation authorities stated that airport operations would remain restricted to government, military, and humanitarian flights from Monday afternoon until June 11, as assessments and repairs continue.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) said the earthquake occurred at 7:37 a.m. local time in waters near Mindanao. The quake originated at a depth of 33 kilometres beneath the seabed.
Following the tremor, tsunami warnings were issued by the Philippines, Indonesia, and Japan. However, authorities later lifted all alerts after monitoring sea-level activity. The highest tsunami wave recorded measured 1.4 metres.
Emergency response teams, rescue personnel, and local authorities remain deployed across affected regions as efforts continue to locate missing persons, assist survivors, and assess the full extent of the damage.
The Philippines lies along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” one of the world’s most seismically active zones, making the country highly vulnerable to earthquakes and volcanic activity.
