Mindanao Earthquake Death Toll Rises to 78

Updated Death Toll Climbs to 78 After Mindanao Quake

Rescue operations continue across Mindanao after the magnitude 7.8 earthquake. (Global 1 News)

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported 10 more deaths yesterday, bringing the total number of fatalities in last week's magnitude 7.8 earthquake in Mindanao to 78. These latest figures come as search and rescue teams continue their difficult work across affected provinces. The additional casualties include seven retrieved cadavers and three more previously reported as missing, highlighting the ongoing challenges in verifying every loss in remote areas.

Office of Civil Defense information officer Diego Mariano explained that the 10 new recorded deaths are all from Davao Occidental, where the total now stands at 20 reported casualties. This update reflects the tireless efforts of responders who move through rubble and damaged terrain to bring closure to grieving families. Changes in the numbers released by the NDRRMC result from continuing search, rescue and retrieval operations as well as validations and verifications of reported deaths, missing persons and injuries.

Regional Breakdown Shows Sarangani Hardest Hit

Sarangani still holds the highest number of fatalities with 33, followed by South Cotabato with 24, and one reported death in Davao del Sur. These figures paint a picture of widespread sorrow that touches every barangay and kapitbahay in the region. Families in these areas now face the painful task of rebuilding lives while mourning loved ones lost in the powerful shaking that struck last week.

The latest NDRRMC report added that at least 30 persons remain missing, including 15 in Sarangani, 13 in Davao Occidental and two in South Cotabato. Each missing person represents a household waiting anxiously for news, often gathering at evacuation centers or local government offices for updates. Local communities draw on the spirit of bayanihan to support one another during these uncertain days.

More Than 1.5 Million People Affected Across Mindanao

As of yesterday, the number of injured persons remains at 1,399 in the Davao Region, South-Central Mindanao or Soccsksargen, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Hospitals and health facilities in these areas continue to care for those hurt by falling debris or collapsing structures. The scale of injuries shows how the earthquake reached deep into everyday routines of farmers, workers and students.

The number of affected population has risen to more than 357,000 families or more than 1.50 million individuals, including some 5,000 families or over 21,900 persons staying in 47 different evacuation centers. With 14 cities and municipalities under state of calamity, ordinary Filipinos in these communities now rely on neighbors and local leaders for daily needs. The disruption touches sari-sari stores, tricycle routes and school schedules across the affected zones.

Infrastructure and Agriculture Damage Reach Billions

The NDRRMC said estimated cost of damage to infrastructure stands at P1.29 billion. The powerful earthquake reportedly damaged 774 structures excluding more than 74,000 houses, of which some 13,700 were reported as totally destroyed. These losses hit hardest in places where families had built their homes over generations, forcing many to start over with limited resources.

Estimated cost of damage to agriculture is currently at P29.8 million in various areas of Davao del Norte and Davao del Sur alone. Farmers who depend on their crops and livestock now face uncertain harvests, affecting not only their own households but also the wider economy that supplies markets in nearby cities. Local government units work to assess every field and irrigation system impacted by the quake.

Evacuation centers across Mindanao provide shelter to over 21,900 displaced individuals. (Global 1 News)

More Than P184.9 Million in Aid Delivered So Far

Displaced families and most-affected communities have received more than P184.9 million in food and non-food assistance. This support reaches evacuation centers and isolated barangays where residents share what they have while waiting for more supplies. The aid helps ease immediate hunger and provides basic items that restore a sense of normalcy amid the crisis.

Communities across Mindanao continue to organize relief efforts that reflect the deep ties between neighbors. Barangay captains coordinate with provincial officials to ensure that help reaches those who need it most, from young children in evacuation centers to elderly residents who lost their homes.

Police Intensify Operations Against Quake Scammers

After two women were arrested for posing as Department of Public Works and Highways officials, Philippine National Police chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. yesterday ordered police units to intensify operations against scammers in quake-hit areas. Criminal cases for usurpation of authority and falsification by private persons and use of falsified documents were filed against the suspects, known only as Chel and Cham, who were arrested at the DPWH's Davao regional office on June 14.

The suspects allegedly introduced themselves as DPWH officials from Metro Manila and told public works employees in Davao that they were there to inspect infrastructure such as bridges and roads affected by the recent earthquake. They even called for a meeting at the regional office. Nartatez stated there is a special place in hell for these people who take advantage of the situation in Mindanao for their personal gains but right now, the focus is to identify all of them and haul them off to jail.

Philippine Red Cross Deploys Hundreds to Hardest-Hit Areas

To ensure uninterrupted humanitarian operations in earthquake affected areas, the Philippine Red Cross said it has deployed 264 staff and volunteers across Sarangani, General Santos City, Davao Occidental and South Cotabato. The PRC personnel were supported by a range of operational assets including nine ambulances, six rescue vehicles, four water tankers, two food trucks, two relief trucks, three generator sets, two drones, and one Starlink satellite communications unit.

PRC chairman and CEO Richard Gordon said the organization is moving ahead to reach even the most isolated communities. These teams bring medical care, clean water and relief goods directly to families who remain cut off from main roads. Their presence offers hope to residents still recovering from the magnitude 7.8 quake that reshaped daily life across Mindanao.