Rescuers search for survivors after Philippines quake kills 37
More than 400 people were injured and four remain missing after Monday’s magnitude 7.8 earthquake
Regional fire officer Edgar Tanawan, who was leading the operation, said two people had been pulled out alive from the commercial building, housing a grocery store and other businesses, but a third was found dead. Scanners had so far detected no signs of life from the remaining two, he added.
“It’s difficult to accept, as a mother, that my son is still trapped there,” said Dioslinda Deluvio, 65, distraught as she waited outside the building for news of her son.
“My only call is to have him retrieved today so we can be at peace.”
The 7.8-magnitude quake, which triggered tsunami warnings across several countries, struck early on Monday morning about 20km (12.4 miles) off the coast of Sarangani province, with tremors felt strongly across Mindanao and as far as the city of Manado, 420km (261 miles) away on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi.
Officials said they hoped the death toll would not rise further as search and rescue operations continued, with more than 400 people injured and four still missing.