Deadly 7.8 magnitude earthquake hits southern Philippines

Residents described scenes of chaos as people rushed out of homes, offices, and public buildings when the ground began shaking violently. Witnesses reported cracked roads, fallen debris, and damaged infrastructure in several cities and towns near the quake’s epicenter.

The country’s disaster management agencies immediately deployed emergency personnel, medical teams, and search-and-rescue units to the hardest-hit locations. Temporary shelters were established for families displaced by damaged homes and ongoing aftershocks.