Philippines Earthquake Update: Death Toll Rises to 45
Rescue teams continue searching through damaged and collapsed buildings in General Santos City and other parts of southern Mindanao following a devastating 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck on Monday.
Authorities have reported that at least 45 people have died, 630 have been injured, and 17 remain missing. More than 25,000 people have been displaced, many of whom are staying in emergency shelters and are reluctant to return home due to ongoing aftershocks.
The earthquake has triggered over 2,100 aftershocks, including several reaching magnitude 6.4, complicating rescue operations and raising fears of further damage. Rescuers were forced to evacuate a partially collapsed grocery store in General Santos City on Wednesday when a strong aftershock caused additional debris to fall.
The disaster has severely impacted infrastructure, damaging over 3,100 homes, 29 roads, 11 bridges, and more than 100 government buildings. The General Santos International Airport remains closed to commercial flights, operating only for government and military relief missions.
In this photo provided by the Philippine Red Cross, rescuers inspect the damage after an earthquake in General Santos, Philippines, Monday, June 8, 2026.
Philippine Red Cross via AP
Education has also been disrupted, with approximately 6,000 public school buildings requiring safety inspections before classes can resume. The earthquake struck on the first day of the new school year, leaving many students among the injured.
The quake, one of the strongest to hit the Philippines in decades, occurred along the Cotabato Trench in the country's seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire region. Authorities continue search-and-rescue efforts while assessing the full extent of the devastation.