MANILA(June 11) — The death toll from the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck off Mindanao on Monday has climbed to 53, as rescuers continue search and retrieval operations amid landslides, damaged infrastructure, and widespread displacement.
In its latest report, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said 487 people were injured while 17 remain missing. Of the reported fatalities, 33 were recorded in Region 12 and 12 in Region 11, although the figures are still undergoing validation.
The powerful tremor triggered at least 10 landslides across southern Mindanao, with six reported in Region 11 and four in Region 12.
In Glan, Sarangani, 13 residents of Barangay New Aklan were reportedly buried by landslides, according to Sarangani Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office chief Rene Punzalan. Authorities are also verifying reports that an entire barangay was engulfed by a landslide elsewhere in Mindanao.
The disaster has severely affected transportation and access to remote communities. The Department of Public Works and Highways reported damage to 18 bridges and 41 roads in Region 12, with six bridges and nearly half of the affected roads still impassable.
Office of Civil Defense spokesperson Junie Castillo said damaged infrastructure has complicated relief operations and delayed access to some quake-hit areas.
The NDRRMC also reported damage to 238 infrastructure facilities, mostly in Region 12, with initial losses estimated at ₱15 million.
Meanwhile, around 130,000 consumers remain without electricity. The Department of Energy has prioritized restoring power to hospitals and health facilities, where some patients continue to receive treatment in tents because of aftershocks and structural concerns.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. earlier directed government agencies to prioritize inspections of hospitals and health facilities to ensure the safety of patients and medical workers.
The earthquake affected 149,372 people, or 33,596 families, across Regions 9, 11, and 12, as well as the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
Of the total affected population, 41,437 individuals have been displaced. More than 32,000 are staying in 57 evacuation centers, while nearly 9,000 others are receiving assistance outside evacuation facilities.
The quake also damaged 2,994 houses across affected communities.
Despite damaged roads and difficult terrain, Castillo said isolated communities had been reached since Tuesday. Search, rescue, and retrieval operations remain underway as authorities continue to account for the missing and assess the full extent of the disaster.
Government agencies have so far provided about ₱4.8 million worth of assistance to affected families as recovery efforts continue.
