More than 2,200 aftershocks in the Philippines: Death toll continues to rise after severe earthquake off Mindanao

Damage to buildings, roads, and the airport

The tremor occurred off the coast of the Philippines and damaged, according to civil defense, more than 3,000 buildings, including schools, residential homes, and public facilities. Thousands of schools initially remained closed. The quake fell on the first day of school after the holidays, further heightening concerns about children and young people in the affected regions. Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro of the Southeast Asian island nation's civil defense said total infrastructure damage is estimated at around 562 million pesos, the equivalent of just under 8 million euros.

Tsunami warnings and aftershocks

Roads and bridges were also damaged, according to the authorities. This is significantly hampering access for aid transports. The international airport in General Santos City, an important hub in the south of Mindanao, sustained partial damage. However, the airport is now being used again for aid and government flights to ensure the supply of the affected population. Smaller flood waves were recorded in several coastal areas, initially triggering concerns about a larger tsunami.

Pacific Ring of Fire as a risk factor

Tsunami warnings initially issued for the Philippines and Indonesia were already lifted on Monday. However, the threat from the more than 2,200 aftershocks recorded by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) since the main quake continues to keep the region on edge. The constant tremors endanger already unstable structures and hamper recovery operations. Residents in many places reported having to spend the night outdoors because their homes were no longer habitable.

International aid and national coordination

The Philippines lies on the Pacific Ring of Fire, one of the most seismically active regions on Earth. There, several tectonic plates collide, which is why strong earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur regularly. Earlier this year, several quakes of magnitude 6 and above struck the northern Philippines, without causing a comparable death toll. The current magnitude 7.8 quake once again highlights the high vulnerability of the island nation to tectonic shifts.

International aid organizations have pledged initial emergency assistance. The Philippine government is coordinating the measures through the national civil defense authority. In addition to the medical care of the injured, the focus is on the supply of drinking water, food, and emergency shelters. Due to the ongoing aftershocks and damaged infrastructure, the situation remains tense, especially as further strong tremors cannot be ruled out.

Residents of the region expressed deep distress. Many families lost their homes and all their possessions within seconds. Children who had just started the new school year now face the loss of their familiar learning environment. Aid workers on the ground report long queues in front of the few remaining intact supply points. The coming days will show whether the aid measures take effect quickly enough to prevent a further deterioration of the humanitarian situation.