Hundreds of Aftershocks Jolt Southern Philippines
The 7.8‑magnitude quake that struck the southern tip of Mindanao on Monday morning sent seismic waves across the island, damaging buildings, roads and utilities. Emergency responders have documented collapsed homes and infrastructure cracks, while landslides have buried sections of highways.
Current figures show 37 people dead and 487 injured, but officials fear the numbers may increase as aftershocks—some of which are strong—continue to strike. The Philippine government has mobilised its entire disaster‑response machinery, with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr sending his transportation and health secretaries to oversee operations.
In the early hours of the quake, a construction worker in Polomolok was transporting his three children to school when the ground began to rock. "Children started running and crying," he said. He noted that the shaking felt like a vigorous rocking on a hammock, lasting more than two minutes and intensifying each second.
A science minister and seismologist, Renato Solidum, told radio that many students survived because they were outside during the Monday morning assembly—an event held in schools across the country. "They were lucky to be outside; they could stay put and sit down," he added.
One viral clip captured the collapse of a Jollibee restaurant in General Santos City, where panic spread as the building gave way. The fast‑food chain issued a statement confirming that no staff members were injured.
Mayor Jason John Joyce of Jose Abad Santos explained that landslides have buried his town’s only highway, cutting off half the community and forcing relief goods to be flown in. "Access remains difficult," he said.
The event followed a 1976 earthquake on the same trench that killed approximately 5,000 people after a tsunami ensued. The Cotabato Trench is a frequent source of major seismic activity, placing the Philippines in the Pacific Ring of Fire.
Efforts continue with search and rescue teams working under continuous aftershocks. Though electricity and telephone lines remain disrupted in many areas, local administrators stress that the priority is to locate survivors and provide medical aid.
