Rescuers are searching ruined buildings in the southern Philippines to ensure no one was still trapped a day after the strongest earthquake to hit the country in a half-century killed at least 37 people and displaced more than 20,000, according to official reports as of June 9, 2026.
The earthquake, which struck on June 8, 2026, was measured as the most powerful in the region in 50 years, causing widespread damage to infrastructure and homes. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology reported the quake's magnitude, though exact figures were not immediately confirmed in all sources.
Local authorities have set up evacuation centers for the displaced, with relief operations ongoing. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council is coordinating search and rescue efforts, focusing on collapsed buildings in affected areas.
International aid offers have been received, and the Philippine government has deployed military and police units to assist in rescue and recovery. The full extent of the damage is still being assessed as aftershocks continue to rattle the region.
