A magnitude 7.8 offshore earthquake struck the southern Philippines on Monday, killing at least 32 people and injuring more than 200, according to officials. The quake, the strongest recorded in the country this year, also generated tsunami waves that reached nearby coastal areas.
The earthquake occurred at 7:37 a.m. at a depth of about 33 kilometers, with its epicenter in the sea off Mindanao, near Maasim town in Sarangani province. General Santos, a port city of more than 700,000 people, was among the hardest-hit areas. Several low-rise buildings collapsed or were heavily damaged, and at least 12 people were reported missing as rescue teams searched a supermarket, warehouse, school and other structures.
In Sarangani province, a landslide in the municipality of Glan killed 13 villagers, while four others died elsewhere in the province. Officials said many of the other fatalities were caused by collapsing buildings and falling debris in South Cotabato, Davao Occidental and Balut Island.
The quake disrupted the first day of classes after a two-month break in some areas. At a school in Malita, more than 100 students and teachers were gathered for a flag-raising ceremony when the shaking began. No injuries were reported there.
Tsunami waves of about 1 meter were recorded in Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani, with a 1.4-meter wave reported in Kiamba. Smaller waves were detected in Indonesia, Palau and Japan. Philippine authorities lifted the tsunami warning by mid-afternoon after the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said the threat had largely passed.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. canceled classes and directed disaster-response agencies to assist affected provinces. The airport in General Santos was temporarily closed, leading to the cancellation of 17 domestic flights.
The United States, France and New Zealand expressed readiness to support response efforts. Officials warned residents not to return to damaged buildings without safety clearance due to the risk of aftershocks.