65 dead, 36 missing after Mindanao quake — OCD

Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Asec. Bernardo Rafaelito R. Alejandro IV said the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck Sarangani on 8 June left 65 fatalities and 36 individuals reported missing during a press conference on Monday.

Alejandro revealed that the quake affected nearly 161,000 families, which is about 624,000 individuals, across 432 barangays in Regions 11 and 12.

The assistant secretary informed residents in affected areas that 37 evacuation centers remain operational, sheltering around 3,200 families or 14,200 individuals. However, 14,000 families, equivalent to nearly 57,000 people, are currently staying outside evacuation centers.

Alejandro also asserted that reported deaths were caused by earthquake-induced landslides, particularly in the hardest-hit areas of Glan, Sarangani, and Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental, including other fatalities linked to falling debris, with incidents reported in General Santos City.

Along with this, approximately 1,400 individuals are injured, while search and retrieval operations continue for those still missing, which is mostly from Jose Abad Santos, where massive landslides buried homes and communities.

"We will continue to help until the situation of our fellow citizens who are victims of this earthquake returns to normal," Alejandro said.