Earthquake Devastates General Santos in the Philippines
In the southern Philippine city of General Santos, rescuers continued efforts to find two people under the rubble of a collapsed building following a devastating earthquake. The powerful quake, which has claimed at least 37 lives and injured hundreds, has left the city grappling with severe devastation. Edgar Tanawan, the regional fire officer heading the rescue operation, confirmed that two individuals had been rescued from the commercial building, which housed a grocery store and other businesses. Unfortunately, one person was found dead, and no signs of life have been detected from the remaining two trapped individuals so far.
Distraught family members, like Dioslinda Deluvio, wait anxiously as rescuers work tirelessly. The 65-year-old mother expressed her deep concern while hoping for her son’s retrieval from the debris. ‘My only call is to have him retrieved today so we can be at peace,’ she stated with heavy emotion.
The 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck early Monday morning near the coast of Sarangani province, leading to widespread tremors felt as far as Manado on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. The quake triggered tsunami warnings across multiple countries. Currently, the city is declared a state of calamity, with significant damage to infrastructure, including fallen buildings, scattered debris, and downed power lines.
Search and rescue operations are ongoing, with more than 400 people injured and four still reported missing. Authorities are hopeful that the death toll will not increase further. The disaster has heavily impacted General Santos, a city of over 700,000 residents.
Philippine disaster officials are evaluating damaged structures and striving to restore essential utilities for the affected populace. The earthquake comes shortly after another tragedy earlier this year when a 6.9-magnitude quake hit near Cebu, causing significant casualties.
The Philippines frequently experiences seismic activity due to its location on the Pacific “Ring of Fire.” This geologically complex region is prone to earthquakes and volcanic activity.
Educational institutions, which had recently reopened, were closed after the quake as safety assessments took place. Many school buildings suffered varying degrees of damage. Rafaelito Alejandro, head of the civil defense office, informed the public via DZBB radio about ongoing inspections.
A rescue worker carried a dog named Ceedee as they searched through the rubble for survivors, illustrating the urgent rescue efforts. Aftershocks continue to pose a threat, with 23 recorded so far, the most intense being a magnitude 6.7.
Due to structural assessments, patients in General Santos and Sarangani are receiving medical care in temporary facilities, while local authorities focus on securing hospitals. Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa emphasized the importance of restoring power, as outages are critical for treatment procedures.