The death toll from a powerful earthquake that struck the southern Philippines has risen to 46 as rescue teams continue searching for survivors amid widespread destruction, landslides and the threat of ongoing aftershocks.
The 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of the southern island of Mindanao on Monday, damaging buildings, triggering landslides and prompting tsunami warnings across several areas. Emergency crews have since been working around the clock to locate missing residents and clear debris in some of the hardest-hit communities.
One of the focal points of rescue efforts has been a collapsed supermarket in General Santos City, where workers had been trapped beneath the rubble since the quake struck.
On Wednesday, rescuers recovered the body of 39-year-old supermarket employee Joey Deluvio after an intensive search operation. According to rescue officials, specialised life-detection equipment had earlier detected what appeared to be a weak pulse beneath the debris, raising hopes that a survivor might still be found.
Michelle Chua, a local rescue official involved in the operation, said teams carefully worked through the unstable wreckage to reach the location identified by the equipment. However, when rescuers reached the victim, they found no signs of life. Deluvio’s body was discovered pinned between two collapsed beams inside the building.
Authorities said another employee remains unaccounted for, and search operations are continuing despite concerns over further structural collapses and aftershocks.
The national disaster management agency reported that the official death toll had reached 45 by Wednesday, while the number of missing people increased sharply from four to 17. Civil defence officials later confirmed that Deluvio’s death had not yet been included in the latest national tally, bringing the total number of confirmed fatalities to 46.
Most of the newly reported deaths occurred in Davao Occidental, one of the regions hardest hit by the earthquake. Officials said many victims were killed when landslides buried homes and roads, while others died in building collapses caused by the powerful shaking.
Rafaelito Alejandro of the civil defence office said rescue teams continue to face challenging conditions as they search affected communities, assess damaged infrastructure and provide assistance to displaced residents.
Thousands of people have been affected by the disaster, with many forced to leave their homes due to safety concerns. Temporary shelters have been established in several locations while authorities inspect damaged structures and restore essential services.
The earthquake is among the strongest to strike the Philippines in recent years. The country sits along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region known for intense seismic and volcanic activity, making earthquakes a frequent threat.
Emergency officials have urged residents to remain alert for aftershocks as rescue and recovery efforts continue across Mindanao and neighbouring provinces.
