Death toll from M7.8 earthquake in the Philippines rises to 53

The number of fatalities from the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that shook off the coast of Mindanao in the southern Philippines earlier this week has risen to 53, the local disaster management agency stated on Wednesday. To date, 53 bodies have been recovered, although some are yet to be identified, said Philippine Bureau of Fire Protection spokesperson Anthony Arroyo, as reported by GMA News Online. Earlier reports indicated that rescue teams were still searching for 17 people reported missing. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported that 487 people sustained injuries, according to local media Philstar. Of the total confirmed fatalities, 33 were recorded in Region 12 and 12 in Region 11, though authorities said the figures remain subject to verification. The earthquake occurred on Monday at 7:37 a.m. local time off the coast of Sarangani Province. The disaster caused extensive damage across several areas of Mindanao, toppling buildings, disrupting power and clean water services, and triggering landslides in multiple locations. Search, rescue, and body retrieval operations are ongoing in various affected areas, meaning the casualty toll may still rise. The quake triggered at least 10 landslides, including in the southern part of Mindanao. In Sarangani, 13 residents of Barangay New Aklan were reportedly buried after a landslide hit their residential area. Authorities are also investigating reports that an entire village may have been buried by a landslide, though the casualty count from that report remains unconfirmed. The disaster also damaged 18 bridges, 41 road sections, and 238 public facilities, while a number of transport routes remain impassable. Approximately 130,000 customers experienced power outages. Hospitals continue to operate under difficult conditions, treating patients in emergency tents due to aftershocks and concerns over building safety. More than 149,000 people have been affected by the disaster, including over 41,000 residents forced to evacuate. Nearly 3,000 houses were reported damaged. The Philippine Department of Education stated the earthquake impacted approximately 6,224 schools, more than 3.2 million students, and around 128,000 teachers and education personnel. The Philippine government reported that emergency aid worth 4.8 million Philippine pesos had been distributed, while response and humanitarian relief efforts continue in the affected areas.