19 Dead in Devastating Philippines Earthquake

Earthquake Strikes Mindanao

A magnitude-7.8 earthquake hit off the coast of Mindanao island in the southern Philippines, resulting in at least 19 fatalities and over 134 injuries. The quake occurred early Monday morning, triggering tsunami alerts across multiple countries, including Indonesia and Japan, although many alerts were later canceled.

Videos from the scene depict significant destruction, including the collapse of a Jollibee restaurant. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has assured that the national government is coordinating disaster response efforts, emphasizing that they will not abandon Mindanao during this crisis.

• Key details include:
• Over 130 aftershocks recorded, with magnitudes up to 6.7.
• Classes suspended in affected areas coinciding with the school year's start.
• Temporary power and communication outages in Sarangani province.

As the situation develops, officials are working to verify casualty numbers and assess the full extent of the damage. The Philippines, located on the geologically active "ring of fire," frequently experiences earthquakes, some of which can be deadly.