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Rescue Efforts Continue After Devastating Earthquake in General Santos, Philippines
GENERAL SANTOS, Philippines – Rescue teams are tirelessly combing through the debris of a collapsed commercial building in General Santos, the city hardest hit by a powerful earthquake that struck early Monday. The disaster has claimed at least 37 lives and left hundreds injured.
Regional fire officer Edgar Tanawan, leading the search-and-rescue mission, reported that two survivors have been pulled from the rubble of the building, which housed a grocery store and several other businesses. Tragically, a third victim was found deceased. Despite efforts, scanners have yet to detect signs of life from two additional individuals believed to be trapped inside.
Among those anxiously awaiting news is 65-year-old Dioslinda Deluvio, a mother desperately hoping for her son’s safe recovery. “It’s difficult to accept, as a mother, that my son is still trapped there,” she said. “My only call is to have him retrieved today so we can be at peace.”
The 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck roughly 12 miles off the coast of Sarangani province, sending tremors across the southern Philippine island of Mindanao and as far as Manado, Indonesia-about 260 miles away. The quake also prompted tsunami warnings across several neighboring countries.
General Santos, home to more than 700,000 residents, has been declared under a state of calamity following widespread destruction. Buildings have collapsed, streets are littered with debris, and downed power and utility lines have added to the chaos. Officials have reported over 400 injuries and four people still missing.
Disaster response teams are working around the clock to assess structural damages and restore essential services such as electricity and water to thousands affected by the quake. The Philippines, situated along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” regularly experiences seismic activity. This earthquake comes just eight months after a deadly 6.9-magnitude tremor struck near Cebu, claiming 79 lives.
Schools, which had resumed classes on Monday after a lengthy break, remain closed as authorities inspect thousands of school buildings for damage. A video captured at one school showed children and teachers swaying as the quake struck, with some students embracing their teachers before evacuating amid collapsing structures.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has recorded 23 significant aftershocks since the initial quake, the strongest measuring 6.7 in magnitude. Many residents have spent nights in evacuation centers and tents due to continued safety concerns.
In General Santos and nearby Sarangani, medical facilities are operating out of temporary tents as officials ensure hospital buildings are secure. Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa emphasized the importance of restoring power promptly to maintain critical healthcare services.
As rescue operations persist, the community remains united in hope and resilience, seeking to recover from one of the region’s most severe earthquakes in recent memory.