Mindanao’s Southern Coast Thrashes in 7.8‑Magnitude Earthquake
A powerful 7.8‑magnitude quake struck the southern coast of Mindanao on Monday morning, a devastating blow to an area already vulnerable to seismic activity in the Pacific “Ring of Fire.” The epicentre lay beneath the sea off the island’s western tip.
Official tolls stand at 37 dead and 487 injured, although officials warn that the figure is likely to rise as rescue teams dig through rubble and hundreds of powerful aftershocks continue to shake the region.
Buildings have collapsed and roads are cracked or buried under landslides. Large swathes of the island report no electricity or telephone connectivity, complicating search and rescue operations.
The quake triggered tsunami warnings in Indonesia, south of Mindanao and along Japan’s Pacific coast, displacing tens of thousands of people across the region.
“We hope the death toll does not increase further, but we are expecting it to move. Our priority today is search and rescue,” Assistant Secretary Bernardo Alejandro told DZMM radio.
Preliminary damage assessments estimate that close to 2,000 homes and 6,000 public schools have been affected. Schools in the area, including the public walk‑in school Polomolok, were left in disarray as students were evacuated to safer grounds during the tremor.
The September 1976 quake at the Cotabato Trench produced a 7.9‑magnitude shock and its tsunami killed about 5,000 people, a stark reminder of the area’s seismic volatility.
Residents witnessed a dramatic collapse of a Jollibee branch in General Santos City, a viral clip that captured the building toppling as construction workers rushed to safety. Jollibee’s corporate statement confirmed that all its staff in affected areas are safe.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has deployed the entire government machinery to respond, with transportation and health secretaries flying to Mindanao to oversee the relief operations.
Access to towns such as Jose Abad Santos in Davao Occidental remains difficult; landslides have buried roads, leaving half the highway passable.
Mayor Jason John Joyce stated that relief goods would need to be flown into remote barangays because the only main road is blockaded.
Science Minister and seismologist Renato Solidum explained that many students survived because they were outside for the usual Monday assembly; their teachers had quickly guided them to safety.
The quake remains one of the strongest on Mindanao in recent memory, underscoring the need for continued vigilance and preparedness in the region.
