Philippines Quake Death Toll Rises; Survivors Recall Violent Tremors
Survivors recount powerful tremors as quake death toll rises.
The death toll from a powerful earthquake that struck the southern Philippines has risen to 32, with authorities continuing rescue and recovery efforts in affected areas. The fatalities increased after at least 17 people were killed in a southern province, most of them due to a landslide triggered by the strong tremors. The 7.8-magnitude offshore earthquake struck near the city of General Santos, one of the strongest seismic events to hit the Philippines this year.
The quake killed at least 19 people directly, injured more than 200 others and caused extensive damage to buildings and infrastructure across the region. The tremor also generated a one-metre tsunami along nearby coastlines, prompting emergency warnings and evacuations in vulnerable areas. Residents who experienced the earthquake described scenes of panic as the ground shook violently. Several eyewitnesses said the tremors were so intense that they struggled to remain standing.
Many people rushed out of their homes and buildings and gathered in open spaces as the shaking continued, fearing further collapses and aftershocks. Rod Sosmeña, regional director of the Office of Civil Defense, recalled experiencing the quake while travelling in General Santos. He said the shaking was extremely strong and caused people to dash into the streets. Sosmeña initially believed his vehicle had suffered a flat tyre when it suddenly jerked before realising a major earthquake was underway.
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Officials said the tremors were felt across a wide area of the southern Philippines. Teresito Bacolcol, director of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, described the earthquake as a major seismic event. Authorities are continuing to assess structural damage and monitor affected communities as emergency teams provide assistance to displaced residents and those injured in the disaster.
General Santos, a key port city with a population of more than 700,000 people, is an important hub for the Philippines’ tuna export industry and regional commerce. The latest disaster highlights the country's vulnerability to earthquakes, as it lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire, one of the world's most seismically active regions.
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