A powerful offshore earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale struck Mindanao on Monday morning, killing at least 12 people and injuring more than 200. The tremor’s epicentre lay about 32 km southwest of Maasim town in Sarangani province, and it generated a short‑lived one‑metre tsuanmi that washed ashore in Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and nearby waters.

Casualties and Damage in General Santos City

General Santos City, a major tuna‑export hub of roughly 700,000 residents, bore the brunt of the disaster with seven confirmed deaths and about 130 injuries, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS). Small commercial structures collapsed partially, and a critical access bridge developed dangerous cracks, raising concerns about longer‑term transport disruptions.

Regional Office of Civil Defense director Rod Sosmeña reported that a two‑story school collapsed, trapping several students, while a chaotic flag‑raising ceremony left a handful of children bruised or fainted. the national police said at least seven people remain unaccounted for in the city.

Aftershocks and Tsunami Alert Across the Region

After the main shock, aftershocks rattled the area for hours, and the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued an alert for a one‑metre high wave that struck the coasts of Sultan Kudarat,Sarangani and even reached Indonesian and Malaysian waters.. PHIVOLCS later confirmed that the tide receded within five hours and that no lives were lost directly from the tsunami.

The quake was felt as far away as Malaysia, underscoring the broad reach of the seismic event.

Infrastructure Paralysis: Airport Closure and Flight Cancellations

General Santos International Airport was temporarily shut down, prompting the cancellation of 17 domestic flights.. A small commercial building housing a provincial radio station partially collapsed, though it caused no casualties. Falling wall debris struck parked tricycle taxis, and many residents fled to the streets in panic.

In nearby Davao, witnesses described the ground moving so violently that they could barely keep their balance while trying to leave their homes.

Presidential Response and Long‑Term Vulnerability

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. pledged swift assistance, emphasizing that Mindanao would not be left behind in the recovery effort. The disaster highlights the Philippines’ ongoing vulnerability as a nation perched on the Pacific Ring of Fire, where earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and an average of twenty typhoons each year test community resilience.

Who Remains Missing and What Is Still Unverified?

Five additional fatalities were reported in South Cotabato, Davao Occidental and on Balut Island, but officials continue to search for the missing. It remains unclear how many of the reported injuries are serious enough to require long‑term medical care, and the full extent of bridge damage has not yet been independently assessed.

According to the source report, the exact depth of the quake varied between 33 and 55 km as recorded by local and U.S. agencies, a detail that could influence aftershock forecasts but has not been fully analyzed.