The death toll from the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck off Sarangani has climbed to at least 15, while more than 70,000 people were reported displaced in SOCCSKSARGEN, the Office of Civil Defense said.
OCD SOCCSKSARGEN Director Rodrigo Sosmeña said 12 of the reported fatalities were from the region. These include seven in General Santos City, three in Glan, Sarangani, and two in Tupi, South Cotabato.
OCD deputy spokesman Diego Mariano earlier reported three additional fatalities in Davao Occidental in the Davao Region.
Sosmeña said 129 people were also reported injured in SOCCSKSARGEN, although the figure remains subject to further accounting as reports from affected areas continue to come in.
Authorities have yet to determine the full extent of damage caused by the quake. Sosmeña said several structures were reported to have sustained cracks, while assessment teams are still evaluating whether the affected buildings should be classified as partially or totally damaged.
He also reported that three bridges in Sarangani were not passable following the quake. Roads and other infrastructure were also being inspected.
Sosmeña said much of SOCCSKSARGEN was affected by the quake, with 15,077 families, or around 70,000 individuals, currently reported displaced.
Rescue operations were ongoing, particularly in General Santos City, where response units from nearby local government units and agencies have already been deployed.
Authorities were also verifying an initial report that people may have been trapped inside a school building in San Jose, General Santos City, but no confirmed figures were available yet.
Despite the scale of the disaster, Sosmeña said the situation remains manageable with help from the national government and continued coordination among response agencies.
“Kaya naman, basta magtulong-tulong lang, lalong-lalo na from our national government,” he said.
Asked whether the entire SOCCSKSARGEN region would be placed under a state of calamity, Sosmeña said the matter would still be discussed with national agencies arriving in the area.