Death toll from Philippines quake rises to 55 as rescue efforts face setbacks

TLE Desk: The death toll from a powerful earthquake that struck the southern Philippines earlier this week has risen to 55, while rescue operations continue to be hampered by rain and persistent aftershocks, reports AFP.

The 7.8-magnitude earthquake, which struck off the coast of Mindanao on Monday, caused widespread destruction, toppling buildings, triggering landslides and prompting tsunami warnings across the region.

Government figures released on Friday showed that eight additional deaths had been confirmed, bringing the total number of fatalities to 55. Authorities said 31 people remain missing.

In Sarangani province, one of the hardest-hit areas, disaster management officials said major roads blocked by landslides have largely been reopened, but some communities remain isolated.

Provincial disaster chief Rene Punzalan told AFP that helicopters were still being used to deliver food, water and other supplies to residents cut off by damaged infrastructure and power outages.

“Aftershocks are still slowing us down, plus it also rained last night, so we have to stop the operation for a while,” Punzalan said.

Heavy equipment, including backhoes, continues to be deployed to clear debris and remove large boulders from affected areas.

Punzalan acknowledged that hopes of finding survivors among those still missing were fading.

“Many days have passed since the earthquake, so it’s going to be a miracle if any of them can be rescued alive,” he said. “Our goal is just to retrieve their bodies.”

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. visited affected areas on Wednesday, including General Santos City, one of the largest urban centres impacted by the disaster.

During the visit, he pledged government support for reconstruction efforts and announced that 100 million pesos (about $1.6 million) would be allocated to rebuild the city hall.

Rescue and recovery operations remain ongoing as authorities continue assessing the full extent of the damage across southern Mindanao.