A powerful earthquake struck the southern Philippines on Tuesday, killing at least 35 people and injuring scores more, according to local authorities. The 6.8 magnitude tremor, which hit near the coastal city of General Santos on Mindanao island, triggered landslides and caused extensive damage to buildings, including a shopping centre and several residential structures.
The Philippines Institute of Volcanology and Seismology reported that the quake, which occurred at a depth of approximately 15 kilometres, was followed by multiple aftershocks, complicating rescue efforts. The local disaster management agency confirmed that at least 35 fatalities had been recorded, with the number expected to rise as search teams reach isolated communities.
The United Kingdom has offered immediate assistance, with a team of emergency responders from the Department for International Development placed on standby. A Foreign Office spokesperson said that the UK stood ready to deploy humanitarian aid and technical support to the region if requested by the Philippine government.
The earthquake is the latest in a series of natural disasters to affect the Philippines, a country situated on the Pacific Ring of Fire. The tremor was felt across several provinces, damaging critical infrastructure and disrupting power supplies. Hospitals in the affected areas have been overwhelmed, with reports of casualties being treated in makeshift triage units.
The British ambassador to the Philippines, Daniel Pruce, expressed his condolences and stated that the UK was in close contact with local authorities to assess the needs on the ground. The UK has previously deployed disaster assessment teams to the Philippines following Typhoon Haiyan in 2013 and the Taal volcano eruption in 2020.
The Philippines is a key ally for the United Kingdom in Southeast Asia, and the response to this disaster will be closely watched as a test of bilateral cooperation. The region’s vulnerability to seismic activity underscores the importance of disaster preparedness and international assistance frameworks.
The UK’s standby offer is part of a broader global response, with the United Nations and other nations also monitoring the situation. The Philippines has a history of resilient recovery, but the immediate focus remains on search and rescue operations, with the government appealing for international support.
The earthquake has once again highlighted the strategic value of soft power and humanitarian collaboration in maintaining geopolitical stability in the Asia-Pacific region. British aid teams are expected to be deployed within 48 hours if the request for assistance is formalised.
