Philippines earthquake: 47 killed, 346,000 affected as magnitude 7.8 quake hits Mindanao
Synopsis
A magnitude 7.8 earthquake off Mindanao's southern coast has killed at least 47 people, displaced over 45,000, and damaged more than 8,600 schools — striking just as the Philippines reopened campuses after the summer break. With 31 still missing and 346,000 people affected, this is one of the deadliest seismic events to hit the southern Philippines in recent memory.
Key Takeaways
A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck off Mindanao, Philippines on Monday , with the toll confirmed on Thursday, 11 June .
At least 47 people killed , 31 missing , and 688 injured , according to the NDRRMC .
Over 346,000 people across more than 75,300 households have been affected; more than 45,000 displaced .
The quake triggered 45 related incidents , mainly landslides, and knocked out power in 48 cities and municipalities .
8,642 schools across 43 divisions in six regions were affected, per the Department of Education .
Infrastructure damage includes 45 road sections , 8 bridge sections , 1 airport , and 2 seaports .
A powerful magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck off the southern coast of Mindanao, the Philippines, on Monday, killing at least 47 people, leaving 31 missing, and injuring 688 others, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). The toll, confirmed on Thursday, 11 June, places this among the most destructive seismic events to hit the southern Philippines in recent years.
Scale of Destruction
The NDRRMC confirmed that the quake has affected more than 75,300 households, or over 346,000 people, with upwards of 45,000 residents displaced. More than 12,600 houses sustained damage. The earthquake also triggered 45 related incidents, predominantly landslides, compounding the humanitarian toll across affected communities.
Epicentre and Seismic Details
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said the tectonic earthquake struck at 7:37 am local time at a depth of 33 km, with the epicentre located 32 km southwest of the coast of Maasim town in Sarangani province on Mindanao Island. Deaths were caused by falling debris, building collapse, and landslides. Junie Castillo, spokesperson for the Philippines' Office of Civil Defence, earlier reported 10 fatalities in South Cotabato's General Santos — a port city with a population of over 700,000 — with at least 12 people still missing at that point.
Infrastructure and Schools Hit Hard
The quake disrupted the operation of 45 road sections, eight bridge sections, one airport, and two seaports. Power services were knocked out across 48 cities and municipalities. Agriculture, husbandry, and fishery industries also sustained damage. Critically, the number of schools affected has risen to 8,642 across 43 divisions in six regions, according to figures from the Department of Education.
Schools Caught in the Tremors
The timing was particularly alarming — the earthquake struck shortly after schools across the Philippines had begun reopening following the summer break. Surveillance footage from multiple campuses captured violent shaking, with teachers and students either evacuating urgently or sheltering under desks. A two-storey school building in General Santos collapsed with students reportedly trapped inside; authorities said they were verifying details. Online videos also showed university and restaurant buildings collapsed in disaster-hit areas.
What Comes Next
Rescue and relief operations are ongoing across the affected regions of Mindanao. With tens of thousands displaced and critical infrastructure damaged, the humanitarian response is expected to scale up significantly in the coming days. The full extent of agricultural and economic losses is still being assessed.
Point of View
Yet school infrastructure in the south remains dangerously under-retrofitted. The fact that 8,642 schools were affected — many on the first days of a new term — raises urgent questions about disaster-preparedness protocols in the education system. The NDRRMC's phased disclosure of the toll over several days also points to the persistent challenge of real-time information flow in remote island provinces. With agriculture, fisheries, and port access all disrupted simultaneously, the economic recovery in Sarangani and South Cotabato could stretch well beyond the immediate humanitarian phase.
NationPress
28 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How strong was the Philippines earthquake and where did it strike?
The earthquake measured magnitude 7.8 and struck off the southern coast of Mindanao, with the epicentre 32 km southwest of Maasim town in Sarangani province. It occurred at 7:37 am local time at a depth of 33 km.
How many people were killed and affected by the Mindanao earthquake?
At least 47 people were killed, 31 remain missing, and 688 were injured, according to the NDRRMC. More than 346,000 people across over 75,300 households have been affected, with upwards of 45,000 displaced.
Which areas were worst hit by the Philippines earthquake?
General Santos city in South Cotabato was among the hardest-hit areas, with 10 fatalities reported there alone. Sarangani province, where the epicentre was located, also saw significant damage including building collapses and landslides.
How were schools affected by the earthquake?
A total of 8,642 schools across 43 divisions in six regions were affected, according to the Department of Education. The quake struck shortly after campuses had reopened following the summer break, and a two-storey school building in General Santos collapsed with students inside.
What infrastructure damage did the earthquake cause?
The earthquake disrupted 45 road sections, eight bridge sections, one airport, and two seaports. Power services were cut across 48 cities and municipalities, and the agriculture, husbandry, and fishery sectors also sustained damage.
