A powerful earthquake struck the southern Philippines early this morning, collapsing buildings and triggering landslides on the island of Mindanao. Officials have confirmed at least 35 fatalities, with over 100 people injured. The death toll is expected to rise as rescue teams reach remote villages.
The 6.9 magnitude quake struck at 8:23 am local time, centred near the coastal town of General Santos. Witnesses described scenes of panic as structures crumbled, including a shopping mall and several residential blocks. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology recorded multiple aftershocks, the strongest measuring magnitude 5.4.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has declared a state of calamity in the affected provinces, mobilising the military and disaster response units. Hospitals are overwhelmed with casualties, and power and communications remain cut in many areas.
In London, the Foreign Office confirmed that UK International Search and Rescue teams have been placed on standby. A spokesperson stated the UK stands ready to deploy specialists and equipment if requested by the Philippine government. The rapid response unit, which includes structural engineers and medical staff, is part of the UK’s commitment to humanitarian assistance in the Indo-Pacific region.
The British ambassador to the Philippines expressed condolences and urged British nationals in the affected area to follow local authorities’ instructions. The Foreign Office has updated its travel advice, advising against non-essential travel to parts of Mindanao.
The earthquake is the deadliest to hit the Philippines since 2019, when a series of tremors killed dozens on the island of Luzon. The country sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a zone of intense seismic and volcanic activity.
Relief efforts are under way, with the Philippine Red Cross deploying teams and supplies. However, damaged roads and landslides are hampering access to some communities. The government has appealed for international assistance, with Japan, the United States and Australia also expressing readiness to help.
The UK’s standby teams are expected to receive a formal request within 24 hours. Their deployment would mark the first major British humanitarian intervention in the Philippines since Typhoon Haiyan in 2013, which killed over 6,000 people.
For now, the focus remains on search and rescue. Time is critical: survivors trapped under debris face worsening conditions as night falls. The world watches, and the UK prepares to act.
