By Desmond Nleya
MINDANAO- The death toll from the powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck off the southern Philippine island of Mindanao has climbed to 41, while hundreds remain injured and thousands displaced as rescue and recovery operations continue.
Hospitals in some of the hardest-hit areas have been forced to operate outdoors due to structural damage caused by the quake. In General Santos and nearby communities, medical teams treated patients in tents under intense heat, with one mother giving birth outside a hospital building deemed unsafe for use.
Authorities reported that more than 450 people were injured, while only four people remain missing. Rescue efforts have been complicated by persistent aftershocks, which continue to shake the region and pose risks to emergency workers searching through collapsed buildings.
Sarangani province has suffered some of the worst damage, with several communities cut off after roads were destroyed and a bridge collapsed. Officials say some areas can currently be reached only by helicopter, and access may remain limited for at least a week.
In Glan municipality, at least 13 people were killed when a landslide buried homes. Hospital patients in the area have been moved outside as engineers assess the safety of damaged medical facilities.
Rescue teams have resumed operations at a collapsed grocery store in General Santos, where two employees remain trapped beneath the rubble. Search dogs and emergency crews continue to comb through the debris, although officials acknowledge the mission may now be focused on recovery rather than rescue.
The earthquake also triggered tsunami warnings across parts of the Philippines, Indonesia, and Japan, prompting large-scale coastal evacuations. However, the threat later subsided, and all warnings were cancelled. The highest waves recorded in Japan reached only about 20 centimetres.
Videos circulating on social media showed widespread destruction, including the collapse of a shopping centre housing a Jollibee restaurant and severe damage to school buildings. One widely shared video captured terrified schoolchildren being held by teachers as the ground shook violently.
Mindanao remains vulnerable to seismic activity, having experienced major earthquakes in October that claimed at least eight lives. Authorities continue to monitor aftershocks while focusing on rescue efforts, medical assistance, and restoring access to isolated communities.
