The death toll from the powerful earthquake that struck the southern Philippines has climbed to 72, authorities confirmed, as rescue operations gradually wind down.
Emergency officials said that while search teams continue to comb through debris in the hardest-hit areas, hopes of finding more survivors are fading. Dozens of people were injured and thousands displaced after the quake, which toppled homes, damaged infrastructure, and triggered landslides across several provinces.
Local authorities are now shifting focus toward relief and rehabilitation efforts, ensuring food, water, and medical aid reach affected families. Engineers are also assessing the stability of buildings and bridges in the quake zone to prevent further casualties.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has directed government agencies to coordinate closely with local units in delivering immediate assistance, while pledging long-term support for rebuilding devastated communities.
This was one of the deadliest quakes to hit the Philippines in recent years, highlighting once again the nation’s vulnerability to seismic disasters in the Pacific “Ring of Fire.”