A devastating 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck the southern Philippines on Monday (8/6), leaving at least 32 people dead and more than 200 injured. Many attempted to save their fellow citizens, including an elderly woman who was in her yard while a young child sat on the couch when the earthquake struck. The little one looked terrified, searching for the woman.
Philippines earthquake: The grandmother’s shocking rescue attempt
The woman entered the house as quickly as she could, grabbed the child and tried to get them both outside. However, the earthquake’s intensity was so severe that it caused them to fall to the ground, with the elderly woman holding the child in her arms, waiting for the tremors to end. Fortunately, as shown in the video, neither of them was injured.
Grandmother risked everything to protect a child during the 7.8 magnitude earthquake in the Philippines pic.twitter.com/9SZElAqSw9
— Surajit (@surajit_ghosh2) June 8, 2026
General Santos city at the epicenter
The city of General Santos, with 700,000 inhabitants, was at the epicenter of the disaster, where dozens of infrastructure buildings collapsed or suffered severe damage. Meanwhile, anxiety peaks for at least 12 people who remain missing, with rescue teams racing against time, searching through debris in schools, warehouses, supermarkets and other destroyed buildings.
The situation was particularly tragic in Sarangani province, where a landslide triggered by the earthquake claimed the lives of 13 residents, while four other people lost their lives in different areas of the region.
According to authorities, most of the remaining deaths were caused by building collapses and falling debris, including at a mosque and residences in South Cotabato and West Davao provinces.
