Manila: A powerful magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck southern Philippines on June 8, triggering tsunami alerts across the Asia-Pacific region, causing extensive damage to infrastructure and buildings, and prompting large-scale rescue operations in affected areas.
According to preliminary assessments, at least 31 people were killed and more than 130 injured, although some reports have placed the number of injured above 200. Authorities cautioned that casualty figures remain provisional as search-and-rescue teams continue operations across the affected provinces.
The earthquake struck offshore near Maasim in Sarangani Province, south of General Santos City in Mindanao. The powerful tremor was felt across large parts of the Philippines and neighbouring countries, leading authorities to issue tsunami warnings for several coastal areas before the alerts were subsequently lifted.
General Santos City was among the worst-hit urban centres, with several buildings suffering severe structural damage. Emergency responders rushed to collapsed residential, commercial and public structures as rescue teams searched for survivors trapped beneath debris.
In Sarangani Province, a landslide triggered by the earthquake resulted in additional casualties, while authorities continued assessing damage to roads, bridges and critical infrastructure.
The earthquake also generated tsunami waves along parts of the southern Philippine coastline, causing localized inundation in some coastal communities. Tsunami advisories were briefly issued for parts of Indonesia, Japan and other Pacific regions as monitoring agencies tracked sea-level fluctuations following the seismic event.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered immediate emergency response measures and suspended classes in several affected areas. Disaster management agencies activated emergency operation centres, while military, police and civil defence units were deployed to assist in evacuation, rescue and relief efforts.
Seismologists recorded more than 100 aftershocks following the main quake, raising concerns over additional structural damage and complicating rescue operations. Authorities have urged residents to remain vigilant and avoid weakened structures as assessments continue.
The disaster once again underscores the Philippines’ vulnerability to powerful earthquakes due to its location along the Pacific Ring of Fire, one of the world’s most active seismic zones. Experts say the latest earthquake highlights the critical importance of resilient infrastructure, effective disaster preparedness and rapid emergency response systems in earthquake-prone regions.
As rescue teams continue working around the clock, authorities are expected to release updated casualty and damage figures in the coming days.
(Image source:Wikipedia)
