At least 47 people lost their lives, 31 are missing, and 688 were injured due to a powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake that hit off the southern coast of Mindanao, the Philippines. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported these figures on Thursday.
The earthquake impacted over 75,300 households, affecting more than 346,000 individuals. Additionally, more than 45,000 residents have been displaced, and around 12,600 houses have been damaged. The disaster also led to 45 related incidents, primarily landslides, as per reports from Xinhua news agency.
The quake disrupted the operation of 45 road sections, eight bridge sections, an airport, and two seaports. It also affected various industries such as agriculture, husbandry, and fisheries. Furthermore, power services were disrupted in 48 cities and municipalities.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology stated that the tectonic earthquake occurred at 7:37 a.m. local time, with a depth of 33 km. The epicenter was located 32 km southwest of Maasim town in Sarangani province on Mindanao Island.
Earlier reports from the Philippines’ Office of Civil Defence mentioned that 10 victims were recorded in General Santos, with at least 12 individuals still missing. The fatalities resulted from falling debris, building collapses, and landslides. The Philippine National Police reported at least 134 injuries.
