At least 37 people died and hundreds were injured when a magnitude-7.8 earthquake struck off Sarangani province in the southern Philippines early Monday, toppling structures and prompting brief tsunami alerts. The tremor occurred roughly 20 km from the coast, with strong shaking reported across Mindanao and reaching Manado in Indonesia. Officials verified 37 fatalities, 479 injuries and four missing, mostly caused by falling debris and landslides, while about 88,000 residents were affected and more than 20,000 displaced. Authorities warned against entering damaged buildings because of aftershock risks. Footage showed the upper floor of a fast-food outlet collapsing in General Santos City near the epicenter, along with damage to a school in Davao del Sur and a convenience store whose entrance was destroyed. Power cuts were widespread. Several hospitals sustained damage, forcing medical care into temporary tents. The epicenter lay about 13 km southwest of General Santos City at a shallow depth. Tsunami warnings were withdrawn after six hours across the southern Philippines, northern Indonesia and Sabah. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said evacuation centers were active and national agencies were assessing damage and clearing access routes. The Philippines lies on the Pacific Ring of Fire and regularly experiences earthquakes and volcanic activity, as well as about 20 typhoons annually. Schools in impacted zones were ordered closed until further notice.
