Philippines earthquake death toll rises to 37 as rescuers search for survivors

Mindanao’s death toll climbed to 37 by Tuesday morning, with 456 injuries and four people still missing, according to the Office of Civil Defense.philstar
The quake, centered off Sarangani province, was the strongest to hit the Philippines this year, triggering tsunami waves and over 200 aftershocks.reuters
President Marcos ordered immediate rescue and evacuation efforts as authorities set up emergency shelters for more than 17,000 displaced families.philstar

Philippines Earthquake Death Toll Rises to 37 as Rescue Operations Continue

A 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Mindanao in the southern Philippines on Monday morning, killing at least 37 people and injuring hundreds as rescue crews continued to search for survivors on Tuesday.

Devastating Toll Across Mindanao

The Office of Civil Defense confirmed Tuesday morning that the death toll had climbed to 37, with 33 fatalities recorded in Region 12 and four in Region 11. Civil Defense spokesperson Junie Castillo said the majority of deaths resulted from falling debris, collapsed buildings, and landslides. At least 456 injuries were reported in Region 12 alone, and four people remained missing. The earthquake affected more than 17,000 families across the region.philstar

The quake struck at approximately 7:37 a.m. local time at a depth of about 35 kilometers, centered roughly 20 miles southwest of Maasim town in Sarangani province, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. It was the strongest earthquake to hit the archipelago since a 7.9-magnitude quake struck the Moro Gulf in 1976.cnn

A landslide triggered by the quake buried homes in the mountainous town of Glan in Sarangani province, killing 13 villagers, according to provincial disaster official Rene Punzalan. Seven people died in General Santos City, where several small buildings, including a restaurant, collapsed.cbsnews

Tsunami Waves and Regional Warnings

The earthquake triggered tsunami warnings across the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Japan. Waves of up to 4.6 feet were recorded in Kiamba town in Sarangani, while 3-foot waves hit the provinces of Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani. A 2.7-foot tsunami was measured off Indonesia’s Sulawesi island, and 1-foot waves reached Palau. Japan’s Meteorological Agency detected waves of nearly 8 inches on the remote island of Chichijima.reuters

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said the immediate threat largely diminished about five hours after the quake, and Philippine officials lifted their tsunami warning by mid-afternoon Monday. Over 200 aftershocks were recorded, with the strongest reaching magnitude 6.7.latimes

Government and International Response

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered all relevant government agencies to act immediately to facilitate evacuations and rescue operations. The Department of Social Welfare and Development mobilized over 1.1 million food packs for deployment to affected areas.mb

France, China, Israel, Japan, and the United States were among nations that offered support and assistance following the disaster. The Philippine government suspended classes across Mindanao as authorities urged coastal residents to remain vigilant amid continued aftershocks.mb