Rescue teams in the Philippines are rushing to find survivors amid collapsed buildings after the strongest earthquake in over half a century. The death toll has risen to 37, with over 20,000 people rendered homeless.
The death toll from the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck off the coast of Mindanao Island in southern Philippines on Monday morning has risen to 37. The Philippine civil defense office reported four officially missing persons, while authorities continue detailed inspections of several damaged buildings to locate those possibly trapped under the rubble.
This earthquake has injured nearly 500 people. Many residents fled their homes fearing a tsunami after waves as high as 1.4 meters were detected in some parts of the Philippines.
The tremors caused severe damage in many areas, especially in General Santos City, a key coastal city. At least 13 deaths have been reported there due to building collapses and falling debris.
In Sarangani Province, at least 18 people died, mostly from landslides that buried homes in mountainous areas.
Preliminary damage assessments show about 2,000 houses and 117 government buildings affected. General Santos International Airport was forced to close, leading to the cancellation of 63 domestic flights.
Additionally, around 6,000 public schools in the affected regions must undergo safety inspections before reopening, as the earthquake occurred on the first day of the school term. Some students were injured while participating in flag-raising activities.
Officials warned that cracked buildings may collapse due to aftershocks, so schools cannot be permitted to reopen immediately.
Experts say this is the strongest earthquake in the Philippines since 1976, when an 8.1 magnitude undersea quake caused about 8,000 deaths from tremors and multi-meter tsunami waves.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has dispatched senior disaster relief and rescue officials to assist victims, distribute food, and assess infrastructure damage. Currently, about 20,000 people are homeless and living in temporary shelters.
The Philippines is among the countries most frequently affected by natural disasters due to its location on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," a highly active tectonic zone, exposing it annually to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and dozens of storms.
Source:AP
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