Magnitude 7.0 Earthquake Strikes Southern Philippines, Causing Severe Damage; Taiwanese Businessman Says 'Many Buildings Collapsed'

(Central News Agency, Manila, June 8, Special Dispatch) A strong earthquake with a magnitude of 7.0 struck Mindanao Island in the southern Philippines on the morning of June 8, causing severe damage. Several local Taiwanese businessmen told the Central News Agency that they felt violent shaking. Buildings collapsed in some areas, but fortunately, no Taiwanese casualties have been reported as of now.

According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), the earthquake occurred at 7:37 AM local time. The epicenter was located approximately 24 kilometers west of Sarangani Province at a depth of 35 kilometers. General Santos City recorded the highest intensity of 7.

About an hour later, a magnitude 6.7 aftershock occurred in the nearby sea area.

Ho Chien-Yi, President of the Mindanao Taiwan Chamber of Commerce, said in an interview with CNA after the earthquake that the shaking was extremely violent, "enough to make one dizzy." He reported that furniture in his home had visibly shifted, and water had splashed out of containers due to the intense shaking.

Approximately 30 Taiwanese people currently reside on Mindanao. Ho stated that he has not received any reports of Taiwanese casualties.

Ho lives in Davao City, the largest city on Mindanao, which is about 140 kilometers from General Santos City. He said that despite being far from the epicenter, buildings in Davao City still collapsed. Communication in nearby mountainous areas is poor, making it difficult to assess the situation, and he does not rule out further reports of damage in the coming days.

"Many houses are built by the residents themselves, and their structures may not meet standards. The true extent of the damage will likely only become clear after tomorrow," he said.

In General Santos City, which experienced the strongest shaking, a Taiwanese businessman surnamed Hou, who has been in the aquatic processing industry for over a decade, said the shaking was extremely intense and lasted for more than a minute. "Quite a few buildings have collapsed," he said.

Hou added that some areas are still experiencing power outages, and the local government has declared a suspension of work and classes.

In Digos City, located between Davao City and General Santos City, at least two Taiwanese businessmen operate aquaculture and feed mill businesses.

Lin Teng-Feng, the Adviser to the President of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (FFCCCII) who operates cage aquaculture, told CNA that the sea swell increased significantly after the earthquake. In some areas, waves reached about 3 meters high, and seawater overflowed onto coastal roads.

"Due to the rough sea conditions, employees dare not go out to inspect the fish farms for now, so we cannot confirm the damage to the fish pens. However, the fish may be startled and collide with each other, causing injuries, so there will inevitably be some losses," Lin said.

Liang Yi-Yuan, a Political Advisor to the Executive Yuan who operates a feed mill and aquaculture farm, said that Mindanao also experienced a strong earthquake in 2019. His factory was built after that earthquake with specially reinforced seismic design, so it remained completely safe during this quake, and both the farm and factory are operating normally.

According to an initial damage report from the Mindanao police, as of 11:00 AM, 3 people were confirmed dead and 4 injured. Two schools, two hospitals, two residential houses, and 14 commercial buildings were damaged. Power outages affected 24 villages and districts.

Local disaster response units are on full alert, and preventive evacuations are underway in coastal areas. (Editor: Wei Shu) 1150608