Manila, Philippines – At least 31 people were killed, 134 injured, and 12 remain missing after a powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck the southern coast of the Philippines, the national disaster management authority announced.
Casualties and widespread collapses
The earthquake, which occurred off the island of Mindanao at a depth of 35 kilometers,
led to the collapse of a number of residential and commercial buildings and facilities.
It also prompted the authorities to issue urgent warnings of the possibility of a tsunami in a number of coastal areas.
The authorities reported that General Santos City was one of the most affected areas.
At least nine people were killed, while other areas witnessed landslides and destroyed buildings.
In Sarangani province, 14 people were killed in the town of Glan after landslides buried homes at the foot of the mountains.
Rescue teams also continued searching the rubble in a number of locations.
There are fears that the death toll will rise as relief work continues.
Aftershocks and tsunami warnings
The main earthquake was followed by a series of strong aftershocks, the strongest of which reached a magnitude of 6.5.
This caused widespread panic among residents, prompting thousands to flee coastal areas and seek higher ground.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued alerts for the coasts of the Philippines,
Indonesia, Palau, Taiwan, and Papua New Guinea. Japan issued a similar warning for its Pacific coastline.
Several Asian countries took precautionary measures following the earthquake.
Indonesian authorities ordered the evacuation of residents in some northern coastal areas.
As the threat gradually subsided, several countries lifted tsunami warnings after recording only small waves.
Philippine authorities continue to assess the extent of the damage and coordinate relief efforts.
Meanwhile, the search for the missing and the provision of aid to those affected by the disaster are ongoing.
