The death toll from the powerful magnitude 7.8 earthquake that hit Maasim, Sarangani on June 8 has risen to 78, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). The disaster has also impacted more than 1.4 million residents across Mindanao.
In its latest situation report released on Thursday, June 18, the NDRRMC confirmed that 1,339 people were injured and 30 individuals remain missing following the massive tremor.
The catastrophe has disrupted the lives of 346,413 families—totaling 1,414,752 individuals—across 573 barangays in Regions IX, XI, XII, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Nearly 82,000 citizens remain displaced from their homes, with 18,504 people taking shelter in 45 evacuation hubs and over 63,000 staying with relatives or in temporary spaces.
Property and infrastructure damage across the affected regions is extensive:
- Housing: A total of 74,657 homes were damaged, including 13,681 that were entirely ruined. Region XII suffered the worst domestic impact, accounting for 58,522 of the damaged houses.
- Public Infrastructure: Early loss estimates have reached ₱148 million, covering 774 damaged public facilities.
- Transportation: The quake damaged 134 road sections and 41 bridges, leaving 25 roads and 12 bridges completely impassable.
The seismic event also paralyzed basic utilities, triggering power outages in 47 towns and cities, water cuts in 16 areas, and communication blackouts across 20 localities. While most cellular networks have recovered, local government units are still working to restore steady utility services.
State seismologists have logged 7,461 aftershocks since the main event on June 8, 84 of which were strong enough to be felt by residents. The most severe aftershock registered at magnitude 6.4. The initial tremor also sparked secondary geological hazards, including 67 landslides, seven major ground fissures, and a localized tsunami.
In response, the national government has deployed ₱176.8 million in relief assistance directly to families, with an extra ₱8.1 million funneled to local government agencies.
As of Thursday, 14 cities and municipalities remain under a state of calamity as rescue and recovery teams continue their operations in the hardest-hit zones.