An offshore earthquake with a magnitude of 7.8 struck the southern Philippines on Monday, resulting in at least 12 fatalities and over 200 injuries, primarily due to damage to buildings. The earthquake triggered a tsunami measuring approximately 1 meter (3 feet) along nearby coasts, according to officials. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center reported that the tsunami threat had largely subsided about five hours after the quake, which occurred at 7:37 a.m. local time, centered at a depth of 33 kilometers (20 miles) southwest of Maasim town in Sarangani province.
General Santos, a city with a population of over 700,000, was among the hardest hit areas, with reports of seven deaths and around 130 injuries. Some buildings partially collapsed, and significant damage was reported to a key access bridge. Authorities are investigating reports of students trapped in a collapsed school building in General Santos, with at least seven individuals reported missing.
Public schools had reopened nationwide on the same day, and more than 100 students attending morning ceremonies experienced injuries due to panic. The international airport in General Santos was temporarily closed, leading to the cancellation of 17 domestic flights. Aftershocks were felt in the region, and smaller tsunami waves were detected in Indonesia and Malaysia. The Philippines is located on the Pacific 'Ring of Fire,' making it prone to earthquakes and volcanic activity.
