Key facts
- A 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck the southern Philippines, causing at least 47 deaths and widespread displacement.
- The mayor of Glan requested helicopter aid to deliver food to 10 landslide-isolated villages.
- Over 45,000 people are displaced, and more than 12,600 houses were damaged.
- Landslides were the primary cause of fatalities in Glan.
- Power and cellphone services remain unreliable in affected areas.
The mayor of Glan, a town in the southern Philippines devastated by a powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake, has appealed for immediate helicopter assistance to deliver food to several villages isolated by landslides. The quake, one of the strongest in the region in decades, has resulted in at least 47 deaths, 688 injuries, and 31 missing individuals. Over 45,000 people are displaced, with many housed in emergency shelters, and more than 12,600 homes have been damaged. Glan reported the highest death toll, largely due to a landslide that buried houses. Mayor Victor James Yap stated that 10 of his town's 31 villages remain inaccessible, emphasizing the urgent need for air transport of essential supplies due to widespread hunger. Power and cellphone services are still unreliable in the affected areas.