Philippines earthquake: 7.8 magnitude quake kills 19, injures 134

A powerful magnitude 7.8 earthquake jolted the southern Philippines on Monday morning, leaving at least 19 people dead and 134 injured, according to civil defense officials. The disaster assessment and victim count are still ongoing, with at least a dozen people reported missing. Concerns remain about individuals potentially trapped in a school building.

The earthquake struck the island of Mindanao around 7:37 a.m. local time, causing buildings to crumble and sending panicked residents into the streets. General Santos City, a major urban center with about 700,000 inhabitants, was severely affected, registering the majority of the fatalities. The quake also triggered tsunami warnings across coastal areas.

Initial tsunami warnings, which had alerted residents to potential waves up to three meters high, were largely rescinded after the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) recorded smaller waves, up to 1.4 meters, in several coastal areas. The US Tsunami Warning Center had issued the initial alert. Phivolcs continued to monitor the situation and reported over 180 aftershocks, some quite strong, including one measuring 6.7 magnitude.

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We have only screamed.

Smaller tsunami waves were also observed in Indonesia, where the tremors were felt significantly, though the sea level rise was minimal. The Philippine disaster agency reported damage to schools, hospitals, shopping centers, and churches, with several buildings on Mindanao partially or fully collapsing. The General Santos City airport was temporarily closed for assessment.

Adding a layer of unfortunate coincidence, the earthquake struck on the first day of the new school year, during flag-raising ceremonies at many schools and government offices. This meant many students, teachers, and employees were outdoors, potentially mitigating casualties within buildings. Classes and operations in affected areas have been suspended. Survivors described intense fear, with one resident recalling, "I thought it was the end. I just started praying."

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I thought it was my end. I just started praying.