Philippine officials say years of disaster-preparedness drills helped reduce deaths and prepare communities ahead of a powerful earthquake in southern Mindanao. Officials describe the drills as improving public awareness and readiness for extreme events, which they say supported a faster, more organized response during and after the quake. Multiple outlets report that the earthquake is among the strongest in about 50 years, with a magnitude of about 7.8, and it strikes off Sarangani province on Monday.
Reported casualty figures vary across outlets, reflecting updates and verification: several sources cite about 55 deaths and 31 missing, while PBS NewsHour reports 46 deaths and 38 missing. Euronews says the figures were “considerably lowered” after multiple verification steps by the Office of Civil Defence. In addition to fatalities and missing people, reports describe extensive damage to homes and infrastructure across rural and urban areas, with more than 12,600 homes damaged. Officials also report substantial injuries and displacement, including around 1,120 injured and over 45,000 people forced from their homes, with many staying in emergency shelters.
