Deadly quake strikes Philippines on first day of school year

• A powerful earthquake struck the southern Philippine island of Mindanao which killed at least 45 people on June 8.

• The earthquake struck on the first day of the new school year for millions of students across Mindanao.

• The 7.8 magnitude quake struck about 32 kilometres offshore west of Maasim in Sarangani province.

• Mindanao, the Philippines’ second-largest and second-most populous island, is home to roughly 26 million people. 

• The quake triggered tsunami alerts across parts of the Philippines and neighbouring countries, prompting coastal evacuations before the warnings were lifted later in the day.

• Many of the fatalities were reported in Sarangani province, including people killed in a landslide, although those figures have not yet been verified.

• Power outages and telecommunications blackouts were reported in several affected areas, while damaged roads and bridges have hindered access to some communities.

• More than 138 aftershocks, ranging in magnitude from 1.3 to 6.7 on the Richter scale, were recorded following the quake. 

• Operations at General Santos International Airport were temporarily suspended before resuming on a limited basis.