Powerful Quake Rocks Mindanao; Hundreds Of Aftershocks Follow; 32 Dead

At least 32 people died following a magnitude 7.8 earthquake that rocked Mindanao on Monday morning, June 8, causing widespread damage to buildings and vital infrastructure, and triggering tsunami waves in at least six coastal areas, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) reported.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the earthquake struck at 7:37 a.m. with a depth of 33 kilometers, with the epicenter located 32 kilometers west of Maasim town in Sarangani.

So far, a majority of the fatalities were from Sarangani. Rene Punzalan, head of the Sarangani Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), said 17 were confirmed dead due to landslides.

Of the 17 fatalities, 13 were from Glan town while four were from Malapatan town.

The OCD said General Santos City recorded 10 deaths, followed by three in Davao Occidental and two in Tupi, South Cotabato, subject to verification.

One of the fatalities in South Cotabato was reportedly hit by debris from a concrete structure destroyed by the earthquake, while another “died of cardiac arrest while the ground was shaking,” South Cotabato PDRRMO chief Rolly Aquino said.

The OCD also reported 134 injured and 12 missing.

“We see this as initial data. This is only the initial report, not the entirety and there are still missing people,” OCD spokesman Junie Castillo said.

“Right now we are really looking at Soccsksargen as it is the center, but then again we are also looking at the reports from Davao region as well as Region 10 (Northern Mindanao),” he added.

Tsunami spotted

According to Phivolcs Seismology Division chief Winchelle Sevilla, the tectonic quake was due to the movement of the Cotabato Trench.

First tsunami waves, reaching up to 1.4 meters, were recorded at six coastal areas by Phivolcs’ sea-level monitoring stations.

They were flagged in Maasim, Sarangani (7:42 a.m.), Kiamba, Sarangani (7:44 a.m.), Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat (7:59 a.m.), Mati, Davao Oriental (8:19 a.m.), Zamboanga (8:32 a.m.) and Tandag City, Surigao del Sur (8:45 a.m.)

As of 2 p.m. on Monday, Phivolcs recorded 258 aftershocks with magnitudes ranging from 1.3 to 6.7.

Damage

The earthquake hit dozens of buildings in General Santos City, Sarangani and South Cotabato, disaster response authorities noted.

Among the structures damaged were the Tapon Bridge approach in Glan, Sarangani; a 4-story school building of Notre Dame of Dadiangas University with 35 classrooms that served the elementary; and several malls and restaurants.

The temblor brought down some ceilings and glass panels of the Gensan Airport and temporarily affected its operation.

At least five individuals were reportedly trapped inside a collapsed supermarket in Gensan, with search and rescue ongoing.

Also in the city, a building that housed an FM radio station and a global fastfood chain collapsed seconds after the quake.

Responding disaster units and police said no one was reported trapped inside as the occupants managed to get out seconds before the building fell.

The violent shaking also tore down the whole ceiling of the Holy Cross Parish in Calumpang, while the cross on top of the main building of the University Santo Tomas General Santos campus reportedly toppled following the strong quake.

While the Davao local government reported no major structural damage within the city, a condominium building along C.M. Recto St. showed visible cracks. Portion of a boarding house in Agdao also collapsed.

The Bolton Bridge along the Coastal Road sustained minor damage and was temporarily closed to traffic while assessment was being made by the DPWH. It was, however, opened to light vehicles at 1 p.m. on Monday.

The bridge in Km. 8, Matina Pangi also sustained cracks as effects of the earthquake prompted authorities to close portions of it. Only light 4-wheeled vehicles were allowed to pass the bridge.

“We will not leave Mindanao behind’

President Marcos ordered an immediate disaster response in Mindanao, with agencies directed to prepare relief supplies and evacuation centers and be ready for possible rescue operations.

“The national government is moving and we will not leave Mindanao behind,” Marcos said in a statement.

Security forces mobilized

Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said the military immediately activated its humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR) following the earthquake.

Philippine National Police spokesman Col. Allan Rae Co said they have also activated their “disaster response protocols and established perimeter and area security in affected locations while assisting evacuation efforts.”

PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said police will remain on the ground “until the situation normalizes.”

Health emergency response teams

The Department of Health said it has deployed health emergency response teams to provide assistance in quake-hit communities.

The HERTs from DOH hospitals and Centers for Health Development will be mobilized based on ground operations being conducted.

Meanwhile, the three Philippine Emergency Medical Assistance Teams are on stand-by to put up field hospitals in quake-hit areas.

The DOH PEMAT members from the Jose B. Lingad Memorial General Hospital (Luzon), Eastern Visayas Medical Center (Visayas) and Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital and Sanitarium (Metro Manila) are certified and recognized by the World Health Organization for international humanitarian deployment.

PCG’s emergency response

In Davao del Sur, Coast Guard District Southeastern Mindanao personnel provided emergency assistance to nine students who sustained minor injuries and lost consciousness. The Philippine Coast Guard said the students were then brought to a nearby hospital for immediate medical attention.

The PCG also grounded all types of watercraft, including fishing boats and passenger vessels in Davao Occidental as a precautionary measure. Personnel were likewise deployed to help in evacuating residents from coastal communities.

PCSO, partners mobilize aid

In response to President Marcos’ call to quickly mobilize assistance, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) and its Authorized Agent Corporations immediately moved to extend support to affected families and residents.

AACs in Mindanao were among those that quickly moved on the ground to support affected residents and coordinate relief efforts with concerned local partners.

PCSO General Manager Melquiades Robles commended the swift action of the agency’s AAC partners, emphasizing that their response reflects PCSO’s mission of bringing help and hope to Filipinos in urgent need.

“Through the collective efforts of PCSO and our Authorized Agent Corporations, we will continue to extend help, hope, and immediate support to families affected by this earthquake,” he said.

Robles said PCSO remains committed to supporting communities in times of calamity, noting that the agency’s network of partners plays a vital role in ensuring that assistance can be delivered quickly, especially in areas directly affected by disasters.

PRC calls for help

The Philippine Red Cross has set up an emergency fund campaign to support earthquake response operations, as it prepares to expand emergency medical services, relief distributions, safe water provision, psychosocial support, shelter assistance and recovery interventions in affected communities.

The PRC Chapters have already deployed personnel to conduct rapid assessments and provide immediate assistance to affected communities.

The RC143 volunteers have been mobilized, while ambulances have been dispatched in North Cotabato, South Cotabato and Gingoog City to respond to emergency medical needs and monitor affected areas.

PRC has also placed emergency response assets on standby across Davao and Soccsksargen regions, including six ambulances, three food trucks, four water tankers, two volunteer emergency response vehicles, a rescue boat, a Humvee and cargo vehicles ready for deployment.

Zamboanga detainees evacuated

Meanwhile, hundreds of detainees in the Zamboanga city jail were safely evacuated to safer ground inside the jail compound.

A jail official said all detainees were accounted for as the quake subsided while inspection was immediately conducted to assess possible structural damage and identify hazards as a result of the quake. — With Andrew Ronquillo, John Unson, Roel Pareño, Josiah Antonio, Evelyn Macairan, Mark Ernest Villeza, Rhodina Villanueva, Diana Lhyd Suelto, Rainier Allan Ronda, Gerry Lee Gorit