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Renalyn Ramirez - Philstar.com
June 15, 2026 | 2:26pm
People stood beside a damaged building in Mindanao after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake, June 9, 2026.
Reuters / Noel Celis
MANILA, Philippines — The death toll from the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that devastated several areas in Mindanao has climbed to 65 as of Monday morning, June 15, according to the Office of Civil Defense.
The OCD also reported 36 missing persons and 1,447 injured individuals.
The affected population has reached about 161,000 families, or 624,000 individuals, from 432 barangays in Regions 11 and 12.
About 3,200 families, or 14,200 individuals, are staying in 37 operating evacuation centers, while 14,000 families, or at least 56,000 individuals, are still outside evacuation centers.
OCD Administrator Harold Cabreros said authorities are looking to build more tent cities or temporary shelters to house more displaced residents.
“Iyon ang hinahanapan natin ng paraan na madagdagan ang temporary shelters na pwede nating maibigay sa ating mga kababayan,” Cabreros said in a press briefing.
(That is what we are trying to address, to increase the temporary shelters that we can provide to our countrymen.)
In terms of damage to infrastructure, the OCD said the current count of damaged public and private structures stands at 728, with losses estimated at about P1.13 billion.
Fourteen local government units have been placed under a state of calamity since the earthquake struck off the coast of Mindanao on June 8.
Price freeze
The Department of Energy, meanwhile, announced the implementation of a price freeze on household liquefied petroleum gas cylinders weighing 11 kilograms and below, as well as kerosene products, in some areas placed under a state of calamity.
The areas covered and the dates of implementation are:
- Entire province of Sarangani, June 11 to 25, 2026
- Entire municipality of Tupi, South Cotabato, June 13 to 27, 2026
- Entire municipality of Malapatan, Sarangani, June 9 to 23, 2026
- Province of Davao Occidental, June 10 to 24, 2026
In its public advisory, the DOE said prices of LPG and kerosene products before the areas were placed under a state of calamity must be retained. If a rollback occurs, prices must also be adjusted downward.
Assistance and Marcos visit
The OCD said search and rescue operations, as well as the distribution of aid and relief to affected families and individuals, are still ongoing, especially in the worst-hit areas of Glan in Sarangani, General Santos City and Jose Abad Santos in Davao Occidental.
“Nai-provide na natin ‘yung mga immediate needs nila. Naipadala na natin ‘yung mga pangangailangan nila lalong-lalo na sa pagkain, tubig, at saka mga initial na temporary shelters nila,” Cabreros said.
(We have provided their immediate needs. We have sent what they need, especially food, water and initial temporary shelters.)
However, Cabreros said more shelter repair kits and other materials are needed to help build temporary shelters for families whose homes were damaged by the earthquake.
Cabreros also said government agencies on the ground were preparing for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s return to Mindanao to inspect affected areas.
Marcos first visited Mindanao on June 10, two days after the earthquake hit.
