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7.8-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Southern Philippines, Dozens Dead

Rescue teams are searching damaged towns after tsunami alerts were lifted.

Overview

  • An offshore magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck off Mindanao, near Maasim and General Santos, during the morning of Monday and produced strong shaking across southern islands.
  • Provincial tallies put the death toll in the dozens with hundreds injured and several people still missing as search-and-rescue teams work through collapsed buildings and rubble.
  • A landslide in Glan, Sarangani province buried homes and accounted for many fatalities while low-rise commercial and school buildings in General Santos suffered partial or full collapse.
  • Tsunami warnings were issued across the Philippines and neighbouring countries, recorded waves reached about one metre on nearby coasts, and most alerts were lifted roughly five hours after the quake.
  • Officials have suspended classes, ordered evacuations, warned residents not to re-enter damaged structures because aftershocks up to about magnitude 6.5 continue, and national agencies are coordinating relief and damage assessments.