Philippine officials say years of disaster-preparedness drills helped limit casualties after a powerful earthquake struck the southern Philippines. Multiple outlets report that the quake—described as one of the strongest in about 50 years—hit off Sarangani province on Monday with a magnitude of about 7.8. Officials initially reported casualties and missing persons, with later verification processes adjusting the figures. According to reports, the earthquake kills range from the mid-40s to 55, and missing persons are reported in the high 30s to 31, depending on the timing of the count and subsequent confirmations. The quake damages were also widely reported: more than 12,600 homes are said to have been damaged across rural and urban areas. The disaster injured about 1,120 people and led to the displacement of more than 45,000 residents, with roughly half still in emergency shelters at the time of reporting. While the outlets’ death and missing totals differ slightly, all attribute the emphasis on preparedness and drills to efforts that supported emergency response and helped prevent a higher death toll.