- An offshore earthquake of 7.8 magnitude hit the Philippines, resulting in 35 deaths and over 200 injuries.
- The quake caused a 1-meter tsunami that affected areas like Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani.
- Several mostly low-rise buildings collapsed or sustained heavy damages in the hard-hit city of General Santos.
- The quake also triggered a landslide in Glan, a municipality in the province of Sarangani, that killed 13 villagers. Four other villagers died in Sarangani.
- The major earthquake was the strongest to hit the Philippines this year, according to Teresito Bacolcol, the director of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.
- The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center stated that the threat of a tsunami largely passed about five hours after the quake, and officials lifted a tsunami warning by mid-afternoon.
- Aside from the landslide in Sarangani, most of the other deaths were caused by collapsing buildings and falling debris, including in a damaged mosque.
An offshore earthquake of 7.8 magnitude rocked the Philippines, resulting in 35 deaths and over 200 injuries. The quake, the strongest so far this year, caused multiple buildings to collapse in General Santos and triggered a 1-meter tsunami that impacted coastal communities.123
Among the casualties, 13 villagers died in a landslide in Glan, Sarangani province, as confirmed by provincial disaster-mitigation official Rene Punzalan. He reported that this was just one of the numerous disasters instigated by the quake.56
Bacolcol, the director of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, noted that the earthquake was unprecedented in strength for this year. Waves measuring 1 meter (3 feet) were reported in Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani provinces, with a maximum of 1.4 meters (4.6 feet) in Kiamba town.
Although damage assessments are still ongoing, early reports indicate severe structural damage across the region, which underscores the significant impact of natural disasters in areas prone to seismic activity. Officials have cautioned that while the threat of a tsunami largely dissipated after five hours, the aftermath will require extensive recovery efforts and aid to the affected populations.
“A powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck the Philippines, resulting in 35 fatalities and significant injuries. The quake also triggered a tsunami and caused extensive damage to buildings, particularly in General Santos.”
