Disaster drills helped prevent more deaths when powerful quake hit the southern Philippines
Officials say disaster drills helped limit casualties as the quake displaced more than 45,000 people and damaged over 29,000 homes.
- On Monday, June 8, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck off Sarangani, leaving 55 people dead and 31 missing. The powerful tremor affected southern Mindanao, damaging more than 12,600 houses across farming towns and cities.
- The Philippines, located along the Pacific Ring of Fire, experiences frequent seismic activity. Officials noted that mandatory disaster-preparedness drills helped prevent higher casualties, with schools training staff on incident management.
- According to the Department of Social Welfare and Development, 430,379 individuals across Mindanao were affected by the disaster. The earthquake damaged 29,509 houses and injured about 1,120 people during the tremor.
- Thousands of aftershocks have followed the initial quake, leaving many residents too traumatized to return home. Thousands of individuals remain in 25 evacuation centers, with others staying with relatives and friends.
- Officials expressed concern over the collapse of buildings that should have withstood the quake if construction standards were followed. This event underscores the critical importance of earthquake preparedness and regular disaster-response drills for communities.
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The week in photos: June 6-12, 2026
MANILA, Philippines – On June 8, classes in public schools opened a new academic year, but it was immediately disrupted in Mindanao after a powerful earthquake struck off the coast of Sarangani province at 7:37 am, rocking many parts of Mindanao. At least 46 people died due to the quake, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said in its update on June 13. Davao Region recorded seven deaths, 40 injured, and 22 missi…
A Philippine Coast Guard helicopter is used to deliver aid to earthquake-hit residents in Sarangani province, southern Philippines. (EPA Images) ISTANBUL: The death toll from a powerful earthquake that struck the southern Philippines earlier this week has risen to 61, authorities said on Saturday as search and rescue (SAR) teams continued operations in the worst-hit areas of Mindanao, Anadolu Agency reported. The Civil Defense Office said the de…
Malay Mail
AlKhaleej TodayDeath toll rises to 61 in Mindanao quake, dozens remain missing
ISTANBUL, June 13 — The death toll from a powerful earthquake that struck the southern Philippines earlier this week has risen to 61, authorities said today, as search and rescue teams continued operations in the worst-hit parts of Mindanao.The Office of Civil Defence (OCD) said the number of fatalities increased after more bodies were recovered from affected areas.Broadcaster GMA News reported that 33 people remain missing while 1,221 others ha…
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