At least 37 killed as powerful Mindanao earthquake displaces tens of thousands

A powerful magnitude-7.8 earthquake off the coast of southern Mindanao has killed at least 37 people in the Philippines, with rescue teams still searching collapsed buildings for survivors. The quake struck early on Monday and hit coastal communities around General Santos and nearby areas hardest. Authorities say the disaster has also displaced tens of thousands of people and caused widespread damage to homes and public buildings.

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The Philippines Office of Civil Defence said four people are officially listed as missing, while search teams continue to check damaged structures for anyone trapped inside. The Philippines Coast Guard has deployed 150 responders, including search and rescue dogs, to assist the operation. Senior officials have also been sent from Manila to oversee recovery efforts, underlining the scale of the emergency response.

Initial government assessments indicate about 2,000 homes and more than 100 government buildings and facilities have been damaged. Roads and bridges have also been destroyed or badly affected, while blackouts and damaged telecommunications networks are complicating rescue and recovery work. Aid workers say many families are now in emergency shelters, and some are staying outside because evacuation centres cannot accommodate everyone.

The earthquake matters not only because of the death toll, but because it has hit a densely populated and economically important part of the southern Philippines. Damage to transport links, public buildings and communications can slow the delivery of aid and make it harder to account for missing people. The continuing aftershocks are also increasing the risk for rescuers and residents returning to damaged areas.

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Commodore Noemie Cayabyab said many buildings were heavily devastated and that rescue teams were still conducting operations in search of possible trapped people. Aid groups described children living in outdoor tents and families unable to find space in shelters. The reports point to a fast-moving humanitarian situation in which immediate shelter, communications and access to damaged communities are all pressing concerns.

The Philippines is no stranger to major earthquakes, and the country's emergency agencies regularly prepare for seismic disasters because of its location in a highly active tectonic region. In this case, the focus remains on the coastal communities of Mindanao, where the initial impact appears to have been strongest. What remains unclear is the full number of people still missing, the final scale of structural damage and how many more casualties may be found as searches continue.

Officials are expected to keep updating the toll as rescue teams work through collapsed buildings and assess the hardest-hit areas.

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