Aftershocks pound Philippines, as officials say death toll could rise

Hundreds of aftershocks have continued to jolt southern Philippines after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Mindanao island on June 8 morning, killing at least 37 people and injuring 487. Authorities warn the toll is likely to rise as rescue operations continue.

The scale of devastation is becoming increasingly clear as emergency responders reach affected coastal cities and towns. Buildings have collapsed, roads have cracked or been buried in landslides, and large areas remain without electricity or telephone connectivity, BBC reports.

The quake triggered tsunami warnings in Indonesia, areas south of Mindanao, and along Japan’s Pacific coast, forcing tens of thousands of people to evacuate.

"We hope the death toll does not increase further, but we are expecting it to move. Our priority today is search and rescue," Bernardo Alejandro, assistant secretary of the agency supervising disaster response, said.

Officials estimate that close to 2,000 homes and 6,000 public schools have been damaged so far.

The Philippines sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region of high seismic activity, making it prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. June 8 quake was caused by movement along the Cotabato Trench, which has produced major earthquakes in the past, including a magnitude 7.9 quake in 1976 that triggered a tsunami killing about 5,000 people.

Construction worker Ramel Pato, who was taking his three children to school in Polomolok, said: "When I was about to leave their school, I felt powerful shaking," adding, "Children started running and crying."

Public school teacher Cesar Sundo described the tremor as feeling like he was "being vigorously rocked on a hammock for more than two minutes... and the shaking was getting stronger by the second." He added: "Everyone felt dizzy. Our students were shouting and crying."

Science Minister and seismologist Renato Solidum said many students survived because they were attending morning assemblies: "They were lucky to be outside. They were able to stay put and sit down."

One viral video showed a branch of fast-food chain Jollibee collapsing in General Santos City. The company said all staff in affected areas were safe.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said he had mobilised government agencies for disaster response. Transport and health officials have been deployed to Mindanao, while hospitals continue treating the injured amid ongoing aftershocks.

Access to some areas remains cut off due to landslides, including Jose Abad Santos in Davao Occidental. Mayor Jason John Joyce said: "Relief goods have to be flown in to far-flung barangays."

By Vafa Guliyeva