Philippines earthquake death toll rises to 46 as rescue efforts intensify

The death toll from a powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake in the southern Philippines has risen to 46, as rescue teams continue searching through collapsed buildings and landslide-hit communities devastated by the disaster.

The quake struck offshore near Mindanao on Monday, sending violent tremors across the region, flattening structures, triggering landslides, and briefly prompting tsunami warnings along parts of the southern coastline. Authorities say aftershocks are still hampering rescue operations and raising fears of further collapses.

In General Santos City, rescue workers recovered the body of supermarket employee Joey Deluvio from beneath the rubble of a collapsed commercial building that has become a focal point of search operations. Another worker is still believed to be missing.

According to rescue official Michelle Chua, life-detection equipment had earlier picked up what appeared to be a “weak pulse” inside the debris, raising hopes that survivors might still be trapped. However, those hopes faded when responders finally reached the location.

“When they got to the body… there were no signs of life,” she said, adding that Deluvio was found pinned between heavy concrete beams, making extraction extremely difficult.

The Philippine disaster agency confirmed that the updated toll now stands at 45, while at least 17 people remain missing. Officials warned that the numbers could still rise as isolated mountain villages remain cut off due to landslides and blocked roads.

Most of the additional fatalities have been reported in Davao Occidental province, where entire hillsides gave way, burying homes and damaging infrastructure. Civil defence official Rafaelito Alejandro said in a radio briefing that many victims were killed either by collapsing structures or sudden landslides triggered by the quake.

“The scale of destruction is severe in several rural areas, and access remains a major challenge,” he said.

Emergency crews, supported by military personnel and volunteers, are working around the clock to clear debris and reach survivors. However, ongoing tremors continue to slow progress and force repeated evacuations of rescue zones.

As night falls across the affected regions, thousands of displaced residents remain in temporary shelters, uncertain when it will be safe to return home. Authorities have urged caution, warning that damaged structures could still collapse without warning in the coming days.