GENERAL SANTOS, June 9: Rescue teams continued searching damaged buildings in the southern Philippines on Tuesday after a powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake killed at least 37 people, injured nearly 500 and displaced more than 32,000 residents.
The quake struck off the coast of Mindanao on Monday, making it one of the strongest earthquakes to hit the country in the past 50 years.
Most casualties were caused by landslides and collapsing structures. General Santos City, a major coastal hub, recorded at least 13 deaths from building collapses and falling debris, while 18 people died in Sarangani province, many after a landslide buried homes in the town of Glan.
Additional fatalities were reported in South Cotabato, Davao Occidental and Balut Island.
Authorities said only four people remained officially missing, but search operations continued in damaged buildings to ensure no survivors or victims were trapped.
More than 2,500 homes and 117 government facilities were damaged.
The international airport in General Santos remained closed for a second day, resulting in the cancellation of 63 domestic flights except humanitarian missions.
The earthquake also disrupted education, with around 6,000 school buildings requiring safety inspections before classes can resume.
The disaster struck on the first day of the new school year, and many of those injured were students attending opening-day activities.
Although tsunami waves of up to 1.4 metres were recorded, damage was limited to a few coastal homes.
Authorities warned residents about the risk of strong aftershocks, which could further weaken already damaged structures.
The quake originated at a depth of 33 kilometres in the Cotabato Trench near Sarangani province.
Experts said it was the strongest earthquake to hit the Philippines since 1976, when an 8.1-magnitude quake and tsunami killed about 8,000 people.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. deployed senior officials to oversee relief efforts, while the United States, France, Japan and New Zealand offered assistance.
The Philippines remains highly vulnerable to natural disasters due to its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire and frequent exposure to typhoons. (AP)
