A powerful earthquake has struck the southern Philippines, leaving a rising toll of dead and injured. The quake registered a magnitude of 7.8 and hit off the island of Mindanao. Its strength placed it among the most serious seismic events to affect the region. The scale of the tremor quickly turned into an emergency for communities nearby.
Officials moved to account for the human impact as the day went on. According to the Philippine Office of Civil Defence, the death toll now stands at 15. Alongside those killed, 129 people have been reported injured so far. The figures came from the authorities coordinating the official response.
Beyond the immediate ground shaking, the danger extended to the sea. Tsunami warnings have been issued across the region in the wake of the quake. People living in coastal areas have been warned to move to higher ground as a precaution. That advice reflected the concern that the offshore quake could generate dangerous waves.
The first signs of how residents reacted appeared quickly online. Images on social media showed people rushing to take shelter as the warnings spread. Among the locations, people were seen sheltering at a school in Matanao. The footage captured the urgency with which communities sought safety.
The national government signaled that it was treating the disaster as a priority. Filipino President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he had directed all relevant government agencies to act immediately. The instruction pointed to a coordinated push to reach affected areas and support those caught up in the quake. It placed the response at the highest level of government.
For now, the focus remains on assessing the damage and keeping people safe. With a major quake offshore, casualties already confirmed and tsunami warnings in place, the situation in the south of the Philippines stayed tense. Authorities continued to urge caution in coastal zones. The full extent of the impact was still coming into view as the response got under way.