Philippines earthquake toll rises to 47 dead, 31 missing

Rescuers in the southern Philippines continue their desperate search for survivors following a powerful magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck the island of Mindanao. Authorities have raised the death toll to 47 and the number of missing to 31, with the latter figure now a primary concern for emergency teams.

The powerful tremor, one of the most intense in recent decades, has impacted nearly 390,000 people. Dozens of structures were damaged or destroyed, and over 2,000 aftershocks have been recorded. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported the latest figures, noting a significant increase in the missing.

Defense forces, civil defense personnel, and volunteers are working tirelessly to locate any potential survivors trapped beneath the rubble. The earthquake has also caused widespread damage to public buildings, roads, bridges, and essential utility networks, including electricity and water supply. Preliminary government estimates place infrastructure losses at over $9 million.

Filipinas lies within the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region known for its high seismic and volcanic activity, making earthquakes a frequent occurrence in the archipelago.