UMVA has learned that a devastating 7.8-magnitude earthquake has struck the Mindanao region in the southern Philippines, leaving a trail of destruction and chaos in its wake.
At least 32 people have lost their lives, and over 200 others have been injured in the disaster, which hit around 7:37 a.m. local time on Monday. The earthquake occurred at a depth of about 35 kilometres, sending shockwaves through the region.
The quake struck off the shores near General Santos City in Sarangau province, the southernmost tip of Mindanao island. The powerful tremors triggered tsunami warnings in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Japan, with waves ranging from a few centimetres to 1.4 metres.
Tsunami warnings were also issued in Australia and New Zealand, but were soon lifted as the situation was brought under control. The Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia are situated in a highly seismically active region known as the Ring of Fire, an arc of fault lines that circle the Pacific Basin.
This latest disaster follows a deadly quake in the Philippines last year, which was considered the deadliest in more than a decade. The earlier quake on the island of Cebu claimed at least 74 lives, leaving a scar on the nation.
Images and videos of destruction have been circulating on social media, showing stores crumbling and layers of concrete piled on top of each other in General Santos City. Footage from Mahayhay elementary school in Davao showed students scrambling for shelter during a morning flag ceremony.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. sprang into action, directing evacuation centres to open and government agencies to evacuate residents, begin rescue work, and assess the damage. Schools in affected areas were ordered closed until further notice, with the president emphasising that "the safety of our children comes first."
