At least 35 people have died after a magnitude-7.8 earthquake struck off the coast of Mindanao island in the southern Philippines, according to initial reports from the country's Office of Civil Defense.
The powerful quake hit at 07:37 local time on Monday, triggering tsunami alerts across the Philippines, Indonesia, Japan, and Australia. These warnings were later cancelled or downgraded by regional meteorological agencies.
Videos and images from the affected areas showed buildings collapsing, including a fast-food restaurant reduced to rubble, and localized landslides in mountainous regions.
In an afternoon update, the Office of Civil Defense reported that 31 of the fatalities occurred in the Soccsksargen region, while the remaining four were in Davao. Authorities also noted that at least 134 people have been injured, and approximately 10,000 families have been displaced by the tremor.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. stated that national agencies are actively coordinating the disaster response. He ordered the suspension of classes in affected areas, which coincided with the first day of the school year in the country.
More than 130 aftershocks, with magnitudes ranging from 1.3 to 6.7, were recorded following the initial quake. The United States Geological Survey continues to monitor the seismic activity in the region, which sits on the geologically unstable Pacific Ring of Fire.
Casualty numbers are still being verified by the national disaster agency, which tabulates and verifies reports from various local sources. An official consolidated update is expected in the coming days.
