Philippines earthquake death toll rises as landslides triggered and buildings collapse

• A 7.8-magnitude offshore earthquake struck the southern Philippines on Monday, resulting in at least 32 fatalities and over 200 injuries.
• The tremor, with its epicentre 20km off Sarangani province, triggered tsunami alerts across the southern Philippines, northern Indonesia, and in the Malaysia state of Saba on Borneo island, though the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said the threat of a tsunami largely passed about five hours after the earthquake.
• At least seven people were killed and 130 injured in General Santos, where a few buildings collapsed and several structures sustained dangerous cracks, said Rod Sosmeña, regional director of the Office of Civil Defence.
• The remaining deaths occurred in the southern provinces of South Cotabato and Davao Occidental and on Balut Island, mostly due to falling debris and a landslide.
• Mr Sosmeña said authorities were checking reports of some students being trapped in a two-story school that collapsed in General Santos. He could not immediately provide details, but the national police said at least seven people were missing in the city.

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Mapped: Philippines regions hit hardest by 7.8-magnitude earthquake that left 32 dead