MANILA, Philippines – The death toll from a powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck the southern Philippines has risen to 37, with four people still missing, authorities said Tuesday.

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) reported that as of 6 a.m. local time on Tuesday, June 9, 33 deaths were recorded in the Soccsksargen region, including 18 in Sarangani, 12 in General Santos City, and three in South Cotabato. Four additional fatalities were reported in the Davao Region.

OCD spokesperson Junie Castillo told GMA News' Unang Balita that most of the victims were killed by falling debris.

At least 456 people were injured across the affected regions, with all four missing persons also recorded in Region 12, the OCD said. The number of injured later rose to 479, including 23 in the Davao Region, according to Philstar.

The earthquake has affected 17,689 families – approximately 77,186 people – across parts of Mindanao, the country's southern major island. More than 22,000 residents remain displaced, with many staying in open spaces due to damaged homes and ongoing aftershocks.

Search, rescue and retrieval operations remain concentrated in General Santos City and Sarangani, which were among the areas hit hardest by the quake.

Initial assessments revealed significant damage to public infrastructure. Nine bridges and 19 roads were damaged, with total infrastructure damage estimated at more than 900 million Philippine pesos (approximately $15.4 million USD).

Authorities also recorded 1,889 damaged houses, including approximately 1,500 that were completely destroyed.

The Department of Education (DepEd) reported that 1,159 classrooms across five regions in Mindanao sustained damage. Rapid damage assessments showed that 751 classrooms suffered minor damage, 257 sustained major damage, and 151 were completely destroyed. A total of 231 public schools across 14 divisions in Regions IX, X, XI, XII, and XIII were affected by the quake, which had a depth of 33 kilometers and was tectonic in origin.

The Office of Civil Defense is planning to establish a tent city for residents who cannot yet return to their homes due to structural damage, ongoing aftershocks, and general safety concerns, according to OCD spokesperson Castillo.

Many residents have been staying in open spaces while authorities continue assessing whether homes and other structures remain safe for occupancy.

The OCD cautioned that all figures remain subject to change as validation efforts continue. Aftershocks continue to rattle the region, hampering rescue operations and keeping displaced residents from returning home.