The death toll from the severe earthquake in the Philippines has risen to at least 37.
June 9, 2026, 6:05 a.mJune 9, 2026, 6:05 a.m
In addition, more than 480 people were injured and four others are missing, as Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro from the civil defense of the Southeast Asian island state announced in the morning (local time). The authorities fear that the number of victims will continue to rise.
A police officer stands in front of a collapsed building in the city of Matanao. Image: keystone
The magnitude 7.8 quake – the world’s strongest of the year according to the US Earthquake Observatory USGS – shook the southern island of Mindanao early Monday morning. The city of General Santos City, with around 700,000 inhabitants and known for its tuna industry, was particularly affected. There and in the surrounding provinces, buildings collapsed, roads and bridges were damaged and the power supply temporarily failed.
Damage at the airport
The damaged facilities include General Santos City International Airport, a major hub in southern Mindanao. According to Transportation Minister Giovanni Lopez, the control tower and terminal buildings were damaged, but the runways remained intact.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has so far recorded around 1,100 aftershocks, some of them violent, which have made rescue work more difficult. The strongest had a magnitude of 6.7. According to civil protection, a total of around 88,000 people are affected by the consequences of the earthquake. Around 20,000 people had to leave their homes and were accommodated in evacuation centers or with relatives and friends.
Tsunami warnings initially issued for the Philippines and Indonesia were lifted on Monday. Smaller tidal waves were recorded in several coastal areas.
Many are in shock
Meanwhile, rescue workers and soldiers continue to try to reach isolated towns. Health Minister Ted Herbosa told radio station DZMM that damaged roads and bridges made access difficult. Many in the region are also in shock. Carers are on duty to support traumatized people.
The earthquake happened on the first day of school after the holidays. Over 6,200 public and private schools initially remained closed. First, the safety of the buildings should be checked.
The Philippines lies on the Pacific Ring of Fire, one of the most seismically active regions on earth. Several earth’s plates collide there, which is why strong earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur regularly. (sda/dpa)