A powerful earthquake struck the southern Philippines on Monday, causing widespread panic, damaging buildings and triggering tsunami warnings across parts of the Pacific region.
The quake, centered off the coast of Mindanao, was measured between 7.8 and 8.2 magnitude by various monitoring agencies. The German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) initially estimated the earthquake at 8.2 before revising it to 7.8. The tremor struck at a shallow depth of around 10 kilometres, increasing its destructive potential.
Dramatic Videos Show Buildings Collapsing
Videos circulating on social media captured dramatic scenes of buildings crumbling as the ground shook violently. Footage from affected areas showed portions of commercial buildings collapsing, while students gathered in open spaces as a safety precaution.
Reports from General Santos City, one of the areas closest to the epicentre, indicated that several structures sustained significant damage. Verified footage showed parts of a restaurant building and sections of a commercial complex collapsing during the quake.
Casualties Reported as Rescue Operations Continue
Authorities confirmed that at least one person was killed and several others were injured, although officials warned that the toll could rise as rescue teams continue searching damaged buildings. Philippine disaster management officials were also verifying reports of multiple additional fatalities in General Santos City.
Police and emergency responders said a number of buildings and homes had collapsed, with rescue operations continuing throughout the affected region.
“Many buildings were affected,” General Santos City police officer Master Sergeant Robert Dagon said, noting that authorities were focused on ongoing rescue efforts.
Tsunami Alerts Issued Across the Region
The earthquake prompted tsunami warnings in the Philippines, Indonesia and other parts of the Pacific. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center warned that waves of up to three metres could affect some Philippine coastlines, while smaller waves were possible in Indonesia and Malaysia. Coastal residents were advised to move to higher ground as a precaution.
Authorities warned that dangerous sea-level fluctuations could continue for several hours after the initial quake.
Aftershocks Add to Concerns
A strong aftershock, reported between magnitude 6.1 and 6.7 by monitoring agencies, was recorded hours after the main earthquake. Officials warned residents to remain alert as additional aftershocks could cause further damage to already weakened structures.
In Sarangani province, power and telecommunications services were disrupted, while schools suspended classes to allow authorities to assess damage. Hospitals also evacuated patients as a precaution.
Country Sits on Seismically Active Ring of Fire
The Philippines is located along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a vast zone of tectonic activity that experiences frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. The region’s location makes it particularly vulnerable to powerful seismic events and tsunami threats.
Emergency crews remain on the ground assessing structural damage, assisting affected residents and monitoring the risk of further aftershocks as the country responds to one of its strongest earthquakes in recent years.
