UMVA has learned that a devastating magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck the southern Philippines on Monday, triggering a tsunami warning and sending residents scrambling to higher ground, with at least 19 people killed and 12 still missing.
The disaster agency reported that 16 of the fatalities occurred in the Soccsksargen Region, while three deaths were recorded in the Davao Region. The casualties are currently undergoing official validation.
In the Soccsksargen Region, 10 people died in General Santos City, three in Glan, two in Tupi, and one in Malapatan, Sarangani. At least 134 people were injured across the affected regions, with 12 people still missing in General Santos City.
The earthquake struck at 7:37 a.m. with an epicenter located 32 kilometers southwest of Maasim, Sarangani, at a depth of 33 kilometers. A tsunami warning was initially issued for coastal communities across several provinces in Mindanao, but was later lifted after sea level disturbances subsided.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. ordered a “whole-of-government approach” to the disaster, directing the military and social welfare agencies to prioritize rescue and relief efforts. He urged residents to prioritize their safety over their belongings.
The government has suspended classes at all levels across affected areas in Mindanao, and Labor Secretary Francis N. Tolentino ordered the suspension of work in regional labor offices. The Office of the Ombudsman placed its Mindanao staff under a work-from-home arrangement while structural inspections of government buildings are conducted.
The Department of Budget and Management said the government has sufficient resources to handle the aftermath, with P13.14 billion available in Quick Response Funds and P34.23 billion in the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund.
Senate President Pro Tempore Sherwin T. Gatchalian urged the Department of Education to assess the structural integrity of school buildings, while Senator Francis Pancratius “Kiko” N. Pangilinan said his office is coordinating with disaster agencies to provide support.
The earthquake was felt as far as Leyte in the central Philippines, and the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology warned that aftershocks could persist for several days to weeks in the epicentral area.
More than 800,000 households in Soccsksargen and Davao Region experienced power interruptions following the earthquake, according to the Department of Energy. The department has coordinated with power facilities to assess the condition and ensure a timely response.
Damage assessments and system inspections are still ongoing, with electric cooperatives and distribution utilities continuing field operations to determine the extent of the impact. The department has directed distribution utilities to prioritize the restoration of electricity service to critical facilities.
As of 2:30 p.m., power transmission services in General Santos City remained offline. The Energy Secretary emphasized that the safety of communities and energy workers remains the foremost priority, with teams working closely with electric cooperatives and critical sectors to restore electricity services safely and promptly.
