Philippines Mindanao quake kills 78, dozens missing

A 7.8‑magnitude earthquake struck off Sarangani province on Mindanao island on June 8, 2024. The tremor left at least 78 people dead and 30 still missing, and affected more than 357,000 families – roughly 1.5 million people. About 74,700 houses were damaged, including 13,700 classified as totally destroyed, and 774 infrastructure facilities suffered damage, with losses estimated at 1.29 billion pesos.

In the aftermath, many communities still lack electricity, stable water supplies and reliable communications. Residents of the United Arab Emirates with family in the affected areas expressed anxiety; a Dubai‑based social‑media manager said, “At first, we were just relieved everyone survived, but now the reality is setting in. There’s still no electricity… communication is very limited.”

The UAE Aid Agency announced urgent humanitarian assistance for the disaster‑hit areas, underscoring the diaspora’s concern and the international response to the crisis.