May 26, Kathmandu – A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.8 struck near the Mindanao island in the Philippines on Monday, resulting in at least 35 deaths and over 200 injuries. According to the Associated Press, most human casualties were caused by building collapses and landslides. In the municipality of Glan in Sarangani province, a landslide claimed 13 lives, while provincial disaster management official Rene Punzalan reported an additional four deaths elsewhere in Sarangani. Authorities stated that apart from the landslides in Sarangani, most fatalities were caused by people being trapped under debris from collapsed buildings.
In the southern provinces of South Cotabato, Davao Occidental, and Balut Island, mosques and other structures were damaged. According to DZRJ Radio Network based in Manila, the four-story commercial building housing their regional office partially collapsed, although all staff managed to evacuate safely. The earthquake’s epicenter was located near Mindanao in the sea at a depth of 33 kilometers, raising concerns of further damage.
Teresito Bacolcol, director of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, said this is the most powerful quake so far in 2026. He urged caution as damaged buildings remain at risk of further collapse. General Santos City is the hardest hit area, where many low-rise buildings have fallen. The city has a population exceeding 700,000, and at least four people have been reported missing. Rescue efforts continue in supermarkets, warehouses, schools, and other damaged buildings where people may be trapped.
Due to the earthquake, General Santos International Airport has been temporarily closed, and 17 domestic flights have been canceled. President Ferdinand Marcos ordered the closure of schools in the affected areas and directed disaster management agencies to immediately and effectively conduct search, rescue, and relief operations. “The national government is active,” he said. “We will not leave Mindanao alone.” Following the quake, a tsunami wave approximately one meter (three feet) high impacted coastal regions. In a coastal village of Zamboanga del Sur province, the tsunami damaged six houses built on stilts.
Some southern coastal villages also experienced significant damage from the tsunami. Small tsunami waves were recorded as far as southern Indonesia, Palau, and Japan. Initially, warnings predicted tsunami waves up to three meters, but these were later withdrawn. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center declared the risk had passed about five hours after the earthquake. Subsequently, the Philippine government lifted the tsunami alert after midday.
Several countries have pledged support for the Philippines. The United States has stated its readiness to assist with relief and rescue efforts in coordination with Manila. France, Japan, and New Zealand have also expressed commitments to provide aid. The Philippines lies within the Pacific Ocean’s “Ring of Fire,” notorious for earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Additionally, nearly 20 typhoons and storms annually impact the nation, making it one of the highest-risk countries globally for natural disasters.
