Mindanao earthquake: 19 killed, hundreds hurt, buildings toppled

MANILA, Philippines — At least 19 people were killed and more than 100 others injured after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck off Sarangani on Monday morning, damaging buildings across Mindanao and triggering tsunami waves of up to 1.4 meters along nearby coastlines.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the tectonic quake occurred at 7:37 a.m. on Monday. It was initially recorded as magnitude 7.0.

Tsunami warnings were issued in the Philippines, Indonesia, Palau, Taiwan and Papua New Guinea, urging coastal residents to move to higher ground immediately, after the offshore quake hit about 32 kilometers southwest of Maasim, Sarangani, at a depth of 33 kilometers.

READ: Part of South Cotabato highway collapses after strong earthquake

Death toll rises

The Office of Civil Defense said the death toll from the earthquake had risen to at least 19, while more than 100 others were injured.

Sixteen people were killed in the Soccsksargen region and three others in Davao Region, Office of Civil Defense spokesperson Junie Castillo said, adding that 134 people were injured.

Three more fatalities were recorded in Davao Occidental province.

READ: Mindanao quake: Senate majority to visit stricken areas

The strongest reported intensity was Intensity VII in General Santos City, where initial reports showed significant structural damage.

“A number of buildings collapsed,” Master Sergeant Robert Dagon of the General Santos City police said.

A three-story commercial building housing a Jollibee restaurant and a Love Radio station collapsed. Parts of SM City General Santos and a building at the Notre Dame of Dadiangas University also sustained major damage

“Lord, it has really collapsed! … The building has really collapsed!” someone can be heard shouting as the school structure toppled.

In Barangay Kablon, Tupi town, Rolly Doanne Aquino, head of the South Cotabato Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, said two persons died.

One victim was hit by falling debris, while the other suffered cardiac arrest after the 7:37 a.m. tremor, Aquino told reporters. The fatalities were confirmed by the Rural Health Unit of Tupi, he added.

Tsunami waves

Tsunami waves were recorded in six coastal areas following the earthquake, according to Phivolcs.

The first waves were observed in Maasim, Sarangani, at 7:42 a.m., followed by Kiamba, Sarangani, at 7:44 a.m.; Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat, at 7:59 a.m.; Mati, Davao Oriental, at 8:19 a.m.; Zamboanga City at 8:32 a.m.; and Tandag City, Surigao del Sur, at 8:45 a.m.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said minor tsunamis were observed on the main island of Okinawa and in other parts of Japan after it issued a tsunami advisory for the country’s eastern, western and southern Pacific coasts.

Phivolcs said tsunami wave heights varied by location, with the highest reaching 1.4 meters above normal tide levels.

In Sultan Kudarat, Intensity VI was reported in the towns of Palimbang and Senator Ninoy Aquino.

Intensity V was felt in Davao City; Kidapawan City and Carmen in Cotabato; Bagumbayan, Kalamansig, and President Quirino in Sultan Kudarat; and Sibuco and Siocon in Zamboanga del Norte.

Classes disrupted

The quake disrupted the opening day of classes, sending students and teachers rushing out of classrooms as schools activated emergency protocols.

President Ferdinand Marcos suspended school classes in affected areas of Mindanao while calling on residents in coastal areas to evacuate immediately.

“Move to higher ground now. Do not wait,” he said. “Your life is more important than anything left behind.”

The Department of Education said the earthquake affected 3,239,964 students, 128,861 teaching and non-teaching personnel, and 6,224 public schools across 33 school divisions in Regions IX, X, XI, XII, and Caraga.

In Koronadal City, the quake lasted about 30 seconds and disrupted internet, electricity, and water services in parts of the city and nearby areas.

The airport in General Santos was closed until further notice, officials said.

Tsunami alerts overseas

Indonesia’s national disaster agency, meanwhile, instructed officials in the North Sulawesi capital, Manado, northern Gorontalo province and the Sangihe islands “to immediately direct their residents to evacuate in an orderly manner to higher ground”.

Japanese authorities separately issued a tsunami advisory for swathes of its Pacific coast, projecting waves of up to one metre (three feet) to hit different regions from 11:30am local time (0230 GMT).

Phivolcs said that aftershocks were expected.

Earthquakes are a near-daily occurrence in the Philippines, which is situated on the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, an arc of intense seismic activity stretching from Japan through Southeast Asia and across the Pacific basin.

Eastern Mindanao was rocked by a pair of earthquakes of 7.4 and 6.7 magnitude in October that killed at least eight people.

These followed a magnitude 6.9 quake days earlier that killed 76 people and destroyed or damaged 72,000 buildings in Cebu province in central Philippines, according to government figures.

With reports from Williamor Magbanua, Edwin O. Fernandez, Bong S. Sarmiento, John Eric Mendoza, Mary Joy Salcedo, and Kyodo News

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