Philippines’ Strongest Earthquake in Half a Century Has Killed 37

On the 8th, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake hit southern Philippines, causing buildings to collapse and tens of thousands to be displaced. Officials confirmed that at least 37 people died in the earthquake.

According to the latest report from Philippine media outlet ABS-CBN in the early morning of the 9th, the Manila Civil Defense Office revealed in a local radio interview that the death toll from the earthquake had risen to 37, and as rescue operations continue, the number may increase.

The earthquake struck at 7:37 a.m. local time. According to data from the US Geological Survey, this is the strongest earthquake to hit the Philippines since 1976 and also the world’s strongest earthquake so far this year. Several strong aftershocks occurred about two hours after the main quake, with the largest aftershock measuring 6.5 in magnitude.

The epicenter was located offshore south of General Santos City in Mindanao. Nine people died in this city. The Philippine national disaster management agency reported that at least a dozen people remain missing, another 134 were injured, and about 70,000 have been displaced. Most casualties were caused by falling objects and landslides.

Official rescue teams have been deployed to the disaster area to carry out rescue efforts. This catastrophe comes only eight months after the last major earthquake in the Philippines, when a shallow magnitude 6.9 earthquake off the coast of central Cebu Island killed 79 people, making it the country’s deadliest earthquake in 12 years. Two weeks later, Mindanao was hit by two more strong earthquakes, with the largest reaching magnitude 7.4.