A powerful earthquake struck the southern Philippines on Monday, turning an ordinary morning into a desperate struggle for survival.
The question now is: how much more damage will emerge as rescue teams reach affected areas?
The magnitude-7.8 quake hit off the coast of Mindanao, the country’s second-largest island.
It triggered tsunami alerts across the Pacific, including in Japan, Indonesia and Australia.
While those warnings were later downgraded or lifted, the destruction left behind is becoming increasingly clear.
At least 35 people have been confirmed dead, more than 130 injured, and around 10,000 families displaced.
Dramatic images showed buildings reduced to rubble, including a collapsed Jollibee restaurant.
Landslides and widespread structural damage were reported across several provinces.
Aftershocks Continue
For many residents, the terror did not end with the initial shock.
More than 130 aftershocks rattled the region, keeping communities on edge.
Videos from affected schools captured students crouching on shaking ground as structures collapsed nearby.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr pledged that the government would not abandon affected communities.
“The national government is moving and we will not leave Mindanao behind,” he said.
Experts note that the Philippines sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire”.
It’s one of the world’s most active seismic zones, making earthquakes a constant threat.
As the aftershocks continue and rescue efforts intensify.
One reality remains painfully clear: nature needs only seconds to change thousands of lives forever.
