Home / Disasters and Accidents / Philippines Quake: 37 Dead, 20,000 Displaced
Philippines Quake: 37 Dead, 20,000 Displaced
9 Jun
Summary
- A 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck the southern Philippines.
- At least 37 people died and nearly 500 were injured.
- Over 20,000 people have been displaced and fled to shelters.
On Tuesday, rescuers diligently searched through the debris of collapsed buildings in the southern Philippines. This intensified search followed a devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck the region on Monday morning. The powerful tremor has tragically resulted in at least 37 fatalities and left nearly 500 individuals injured.
More than 20,000 people have been forced to evacuate their homes and seek shelter in emergency facilities. Many fled due to fears of a tsunami, though only minor wave impacts were reported. The earthquake's impact has been widespread, causing significant damage to approximately 2,000 houses and 117 government buildings.
The quake, the strongest to hit the Philippines since 1976, was centered off the island of Mindanao. Cities like General Santos, known as the tuna capital, reported numerous deaths due to collapsing structures and falling debris. Sarangani province saw many casualties from a landslide that buried homes.
Infrastructure damage, including the closure of General Santos International Airport, has caused flight cancellations, impacting both travel and humanitarian aid. The resumption of classes in affected public schools is pending building integrity assessments, as many students were injured on the first day of school.
