Massive 7.8 Magnitude Earthquake Kills 15, Injures 129 in Philippines

The death toll from a powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck the southern Philippines has risen to at least 15, while more than 129 people have been injured as emergency responders continue search, rescue and damage assessment operations across affected communities.

The earthquake struck at 7:37am local time on Monday off the coast of General Santos City in Mindanao, the country's second-largest island and a major economic hub in the south.

Officials from the Philippine Office of Civil Defense confirmed the latest casualty figures, with the majority of deaths reported in the Soccsksargen region, which includes South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos City.

Local civil defence director Rodrigo Sosmeña said at least 12 fatalities were recorded within the region, while dozens of injured residents were receiving treatment in hospitals and emergency facilities.

The quake, which occurred at a relatively shallow depth of 10 kilometres, generated violent shaking across large areas of Mindanao, causing panic among residents and triggering widespread structural damage.

Authorities reported that more than two dozen buildings, many of them commercial establishments, sustained varying degrees of damage.

Videos circulating on social media showed scenes of destruction, including the collapse of a Jollibee restaurant and damage to numerous business premises and residential structures.

The disaster unfolded on the same day schools across the Philippines reopened for a new academic year.

In several widely shared videos, frightened pupils could be seen screaming and crying as classrooms shook violently. Teachers were filmed shielding young children and attempting to guide them to safety amid the chaos.

The earthquake also prompted tsunami warnings across parts of the Pacific region.

Alerts were issued in the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia and several neighbouring countries as authorities monitored potential sea-level disturbances.

Although most warnings have since been lifted, tsunami waves ranging from three centimetres to 0.8 metres were recorded in parts of the Philippines, Indonesia and Palau.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr moved quickly to coordinate the government's response.

In a statement, the president said he had directed all relevant agencies to mobilise immediately and urged residents in vulnerable coastal communities to follow evacuation instructions.

"Do not wait. Your life is more important than anything left behind," Marcos warned.

The Philippines sits along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a seismically active zone where earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur frequently due to the movement of tectonic plates.

While the country is accustomed to seismic activity, experts say the strength of Monday's earthquake and its shallow depth significantly increased its destructive potential.

Rescue teams remain on high alert amid concerns that additional casualties could emerge as authorities gain access to remote areas and continue inspecting damaged structures.

With thousands of residents displaced, schools disrupted and infrastructure damaged, the full scale of the disaster may not become clear for several days.

For many communities across southern Mindanao, recovery efforts are only just beginning after one of the strongest earthquakes to strike the region in recent years.