A powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck the Sarangani region in southern Philippines early Monday, killing at least 15 people and injuring more than 130 others, according to local authorities and international reports.
Officials said the death toll includes victims from Sarangani and South Cotabato provinces, with several fatalities also reported in General Santos City, a major urban centre with a population of around 700,000.
The Philippine National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said it is still verifying reports of additional deaths in neighbouring Davao Occidental.
Police confirmed at least 134 people were injured in the quake, which struck at 7.37am local time at a depth of 33 kilometres, with its epicentre located off the coast of Maasim in Sarangani province.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said the tremor triggered waves reaching up to 1.4 metres, while local reports indicated collapsed buildings and widespread power outages.
Residents in nearby provinces also felt strong tremors as the quake rippled across the region.
President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos has ordered full disaster response operations and urged residents in affected coastal areas to move to higher ground as a precaution against possible aftershocks or flooding.
The Philippines lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire, making it highly prone to earthquakes and volcanic activity due to shifting tectonic plates.
