The death toll in the magnitude 7.8 offshore earthquake in Mindanao rose to 37 as of 6 a.m. Tuesday, the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) reported.
Those killed are from Sarangani, with a total of 18 deaths, General Santos City, 12, and South Cotabato, 3.
OCD Administrator, Undersecretary Harold Cabreros reported that based on initial assessment, General Santos was the hardest hit by the earthquake, the strongest that hit Mindanao, that wa triggered by movements in the Cotabato Trench.
Enhancing hospital capacity to attend to the injured has been identified as the primary concern.
As of the latest count, 144 persons were injured as the earthquake caused several buildings to collapse, including school buildings.
Nevertheless, Cabreros said the government is ready to respond and address the situation.
He said the uniformed service continues to conduct retrieval operations in the affected areas.
The OCD, which acts as the Secretariat of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councill (NDRRMC) is closely monitoring the situation and is now back in the field to attend to the affected communities.
Meanwhile, Cabreros appealed to the public to remain alert, saying aftershocks continue to happen.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology reported that as of 6 a.m., the aftershock count has already reached 989. Of these, 289 are located, and 20 are felt.
The aftershocks range from magnitude 1.3 to 6.7.
He said the OCD and NDRRMC continue to conduct close coordination with local government units and assured full support as directed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Defense Secretary and NDRRMC Chairperson Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr.