What began as an ordinary Monday morning in the southern Philippines quickly turned into a scene of fear and devastation as a powerful magnitude-7.8 earthquake struck off the coast of Mindanao.
The disaster left at least 19 people dead, more than 130 injured, and several others missing. Authorities warn that the toll may rise as rescue operations continue.
The quake struck at 7:37 am local time near Sarangani province, shaking large parts of Mindanao and triggering tsunami alerts across the Philippines, Indonesia, Japan and Australia.
Although the warnings were later lifted after only small waves were recorded, the hours that followed were marked by chaos and uncertainty.
In General Santos City, one of the areas hardest hit, buildings crumbled under the force of the tremor.
A branch of the popular Jollibee restaurant collapsed into rubble, while airports, communication towers and public facilities suffered damage. Power and communication networks were disrupted in several communities.
The disaster struck on the very first day of the new school year. Videos shared online showed frightened children crouching in open spaces as the ground shook violently beneath them.
In some schools, structures collapsed moments after students had evacuated, narrowly avoiding a far greater tragedy.
More than 130 aftershocks, some as strong as magnitude 6.7, rattled the region throughout the day, keeping residents on edge and complicating rescue efforts.
Emergency teams searched damaged buildings for survivors while authorities assessed the full extent of the destruction.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the suspension of classes in affected areas and pledged full government support for recovery efforts. “The national government is moving, and we will not leave Mindanao behind,” he said.
The tragedy is the latest reminder of the Philippines’ vulnerability to natural disasters. Situated along the Pacific Ring of Fire, the archipelago experiences frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity.
Most pass with little consequence, but some, like Monday’s devastating quake, leave scars that communities may take years to heal.
