MANILA — A powerful earthquake struck off the southern Philippines on Monday, killing dozens of people and triggering small tsunami waves, officials said.
The magnitude 7.8 quake hit early Monday morning off the coast of Sarangani province in Mindanao, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) reported. It caused buildings to collapse, landslides and damage to infrastructure in General Santos City and surrounding areas.
Disaster officials said at least 32 people were killed, with the toll expected to rise as rescue operations continued. More than 200 others were injured, according to preliminary reports from civil defense authorities. Small tsunami waves were observed following the offshore tremor, prompting evacuations in coastal areas.
The epicenter was located about 30 kilometers west of Maasim in Sarangani province at a shallow depth, according to the United States Geological Survey. Tremors were felt across Mindanao and as far as parts of Indonesia.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. mobilized emergency response teams and declared a state of calamity in affected regions, officials said. Rescue crews searched through rubble for survivors amid ongoing aftershocks, including one of magnitude 6.7.
"Search and rescue efforts are our top priority right now," a senior disaster official said, as reported by local media. Authorities urged residents to avoid damaged buildings due to the risk of further collapses.
Tsunami warnings were issued for parts of the southern Philippines and neighboring countries, with small waves reported before most alerts were lifted later in the day. The quake occurred along the Cotabato Trench, a seismically active zone.
The event is among the strongest to hit the Philippines in decades. Damage assessments were ongoing, with reports of collapsed structures, including commercial buildings in General Santos City. Details on the full extent of infrastructure damage remained unclear as teams worked through debris.
As of Monday evening, aftershocks continued and rescue operations persisted into the night. No major additional tsunami impacts were reported after the initial waves. International aid offers were being coordinated while local authorities focused on immediate relief efforts.
