7.8‑Magnitude Quake Strikes Mindanao, Killing Dozens and Displacing Thousands

Overview

• The offshore quake struck on Monday and was measured at magnitude 7.8 by the USGS with shallow depth that produced dozens of strong aftershocks up to about magnitude 6.7.
• Philippine authorities say at least 32 to 37 people have died, hundreds are injured and tens of thousands have been evacuated or left homeless as search teams continue to find victims.
• Widespread structural damage was reported across Mindanao, including collapsing commercial buildings and school roofs and thousands of homes and scores of public buildings severely affected.
• Regional tsunami alerts were issued by the PTWC and national agencies including Japan’s meteorological service and later canceled after ocean monitoring found only small waves in some areas.
• President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered a national response with rescue teams, suspended classes in affected provinces and coordinated relief as power and communications outages and ongoing aftershocks hamper work.