A powerful earthquake struck the southern Philippines on Tuesday, resulting in at least 35 fatalities and causing widespread damage across the region. The magnitude 7.8 quake occurred offshore south of General Santos, a city with a population of approximately 720,000, prompting tsunami warnings and the evacuation of thousands of residents.

Provincial authorities reported that in addition to the confirmed deaths, around a dozen individuals remain missing, and 134 people have been injured. The hardest-hit areas included Sarangani province, where a landslide triggered by the quake buried homes in Glan municipality, killing 14 residents. Disaster officials noted that ongoing communication challenges due to power outages have complicated assessment efforts.

Following the initial tremor, a series of aftershocks rocked the area, the largest registering magnitude 6.5, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The strong ground shaking caused several buildings to collapse, including commercial establishments and a school building, although the latter was reportedly unoccupied at the time. Videos circulated on social media showed the damage, including a shopping center housing a Jollibee fast-food restaurant reduced to rubble. Scenes of schoolchildren being comforted by teachers as the quake shook their classrooms were also shared.

Rescue operations continued through the night in General Santos, where emergency workers were seen digging through debris in search of survivors. Among those trapped were two employees of a popular grocery store chain; personal accounts from relatives highlighted the desperate situation. Morphy Angcad, a security guard and brother of one missing employee, expressed hope that his sister was still alive despite the grim circumstances. Another relative, Dioslinda Deluvio, mourned her son who was among those unaccounted for.

The quake triggered tsunami alerts across parts of Southeast Asia and the Pacific. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued warnings for coastal areas in the Philippines, Indonesia, Palau, Taiwan, and Papua New Guinea. However, by mid-afternoon, these alerts had been lifted by the affected countries after assessments indicated that the tsunami threat had diminished.

President Ferdinand Marcos responded by suspending classes across Mindanao on what was scheduled as the first day of the new school year. He also urged residents in vulnerable coastal areas to immediately move to higher ground, emphasizing the importance of preserving life over personal belongings. More than 2,000 people, evacuated due to the initial threat of tsunami waves, remained displaced as authorities continued evaluating when it would be safe for them to return to their homes.

Emergency management officials underscored the challenges ahead, particularly regarding infrastructure restoration and casualty assessments in isolated communities. Efforts to provide aid and recover survivors remain ongoing in the aftermath of the earthquake, which stands as one of the deadliest natural disasters to strike the region in recent years.