Philippines reels after powerful Mindanao earthquake

Rescue teams continued searching damaged buildings in the southern Philippines on Tuesday after a powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake left at least 37 people dead, injured hundreds and displaced more than 20,000 residents, Euronews reported.

The earthquake struck off the coast of Mindanao, the country’s second-largest island, on Monday. Authorities said nearly 500 people were injured, while thousands sought shelter amid concerns over a possible tsunami.

The worst-hit areas included General Santos City and Sarangani Province, where building collapses, falling debris and a landslide caused most of the fatalities. Officials also reported damage to around 2,000 homes and more than 100 government buildings and facilities.

Originating along the Cotabato Trench at a depth of about 33 kilometers, the earthquake also disrupted transport and education services. General Santos International Airport suspended most flights, while thousands of school buildings in affected areas require safety inspections before classes can reopen. The disaster struck on the first day of the new school year, which traditionally begins in June in the Philippines after a two-month break.

The Philippines sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region known for frequent seismic and volcanic activity, making the country particularly vulnerable to natural disasters. It has experienced several major earthquakes in the past, including a 1976 undersea quake and tsunami that killed thousands, and a 1990 earthquake that claimed more than 1,000 lives.

Seismologists have described the latest event as one of the strongest earthquakes to hit the Philippines in decades. Authorities have also warned that powerful aftershocks could further weaken damaged structures and pose additional risks to affected communities.