A powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck the southern Philippine island of Mindanao this Monday, causing significant casualties and property damage. 

The earthquake’s epicenter was located offshore at a depth of 33 kilometers near the town of Maasim in Sarangani Province. According to the latest report from the Philippines’ National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), 36 people have died, 167 have been injured, and 4 remain missing. Authorities emphasized that these figures are still being verified.

Taiwan's representative office conveyed President Lai Ching-te’s (賴清德) heartfelt concern, saying that the people of Taiwan stand with the people of the Philippines and hope the affected communities can recover and rebuild as soon as possible. The representative office is coordinating with Philippine authorities regarding donations of relief supplies.

The office also shared a statement from the Foreign Minister expressing condolences for the severe loss of life and damage caused by the earthquake, extending sympathy to the families of the victims, the injured, and all those affected.

According to the NDRRMC, the earthquake has triggered 840 aftershocks as of this morning. The largest aftershock measured magnitude 6.7. The report further indicated that 19,529 households, or approximately 88,000 people, have been affected. 

Following the quake, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) briefly issued a tsunami warning. A tsunami wave measuring 1.48 meters was recorded in the coastal town of Kiamba near the epicenter before the warning was lifted Monday afternoon.

The earthquake also triggered multiple landslides and caused widespread infrastructure damage. So far, 127 infrastructure facilities have been damaged, with estimated losses reaching 15 million Philippine pesos (US$265,000). Twelve municipalities experienced power outages, and 182 cities and towns suspended classes.