1 of 2 | A collapsed building in General Santos City on Mindanao island in the southern Philippines after a deadly 7.8 magnitude struck the region early Monday. Photo by Emil Elbert P. Prudente/EPA
At least 19 people were killed, 134 injured and a dozen unaccounted for after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck the island of Mindanao in the southern Philippines on Monday morning.
The powerful quake at 7:37 a.m. local time was centered about 20 miles off the coast of Maasim in Sarangani province in the southern Soccsksargen region at a depth of 20 miles, with General Santos City and the neighboring provinces of South Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat also badly hit.
More than 130 aftershocks have been recorded since, ranging from magnitude 1.3 to 6.7.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said all of the casualties so far were in the Soccsksargen region, with 16 people killed, 129 injured and 12 missing, and Davao region in the west of the island, with three killed and five injured.
The agency stressed that the casualty figures were unconfirmed.
The Office of Civil Defense received early reports of major damage from across the area.
“There are reports of major damage in various infrastructure,” agency officials told reporters. “Electricity and communications are affected as well. Evacuation is also ongoing in affected coastal areas.”
Most of the affected areas are in the Zamboanga Peninsula, Davao region, Soccsksargen, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued warnings that waves of up to 10 feet were possible in some areas of the Philippines while waves up to 3 feet could strike parts of Malaysia and Indonesia. Advisories were also issued for Japan and Australia.
No danger of tsunamis was imminent for the coasts of the United States or Canada, the center said.
Philippine President Bongbong Marcos said he has instructed all relevant government agencies to “act immediately,” including setting up evacuation centers and assessing damage to roads, bridges and critical infrastructure.
The quake, which came as children were heading back to class on the first day of the new school year, saw Marcos order the suspension of classes in all grades across affected areas in Mindanao until further notice.
“The safety of our children comes first,” he said.
“Please heed the tsunami warning. Move to higher ground now. Do not wait. Your life is more important than anything left behind.”
