32,000 people displaced by the Philippine earthquake that killed at least 37

GENERAL SANTOS, Philippines (AP) — Rescuers searched ruined buildings in the southern Philippines on Tuesday to ensure no one was still trapped a day after one of the strongest earthquakes to hit the country in a half-century killed at least 37 people and displaced more than 32,000.

Only four people were considered missing on official records in the southern provinces near where the 7.8 magnitude quake struck Monday morning, but the Office of Civil Defense acknowledged several collapsed and heavily damaged buildings must be thoroughly inspected for possible survivors or casualties.

The earthquake centered off Mindanao, the second most populous Philippine island, injured nearly 500 people and displaced more than 32,000, most of whom fled to emergency shelters.

Many people who left their homes feared a tsunami. Waves up to 1.4-meters (4.6-feet) above tide level were measured in the Philippines, but the only tsunami damage reported was to six shanties on stilts in a coastal village. Smaller waves washed ashore in Indonesia and Palau and as far away as southern Japan.

The earthquake left a trail of destruction, including in General Santos, a lively coastal city of more than 700,000 people known as the country’s tuna capital, where at least 13 people were killed in collapsed buildings and due to falling debris.

At least 18 died in Sarangani province, mostly in a landslide that buried houses in the mountainside town of Glan, according to Rafaelito Alejandro of the Office of Civil Defense.

The other deaths were reported in the southern provinces of South Cotabato and Davao Occidental, and on Balut Island, disaster response officials said.

About 2,500 houses and 117 government buildings and facilities were damaged in several provinces, according to an initial government damage assessment. The international airport in General Santos remained shut for a second day, forcing the cancellation of 63 domestic flights except for those on humanitarian missions.

About 6,000 public school buildings in quake-hit provinces must be assessed before classes can resume. The quake struck on the first day of classes nationwide after a two-month summer break, and many who sustained injuries were young students who had gathered with excitement for morning flag-raising ceremonies.

Authorities have warned that buildings that sustained cracks could collapse due to aftershocks, some of them dangerously powerful.

“We cannot force the immediate reopening of schools because we have to ensure the integrity of the buildings,” Alejandro said.

Monday's earthquake was centered at sea at a depth of 33 kilometers (20 miles), about 32 kilometers (20 miles) southwest of Maasim town in Sarangani province.

It was set off by movement in the Cotabato Trench and was the strongest since the same undersea depression triggered an 8.1-magnitude quake that whipped up tsunami waves on Aug. 17, 1976, said Teresito Bacolcol, the director of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.

About 8,000 people died from that quake and tsunami waves of up to 8 to 10 meters (26 to 33 feet) that engulfed several towns and provinces, Bacolcol said.

The Philippine seismological institute was scheduled to commemorate the anniversary of the 1976 quake and tsunami in August by installing markers to remind vulnerable towns and cities of the need for constant vigilance, Bacolcol told The Associated Press.

A 1990 earthquake that also had a magnitude of 7.8 left more than 1,000 people dead, injured thousands and caused extensive damages in northern provinces and cities.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. deployed top defense-mitigation officials from Manila to help oversee search and rescue, the distribution of tens of thousands of food packs and construction materials to quake victims and assess damage to bridges, roads and other infrastructure.

The United States, a treaty ally of the Philippines, said it was coordinating with Manila and was ready to support Philippine response efforts. France, Japan and New Zealand also expressed support.

The Philippines is often hit by earthquakes and volcanic eruptions due to its location on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” an arc of seismic faults around the ocean.

The archipelago is also battered by about 20 typhoons and tropical storms each year, making it one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries.

Gomez reported from Manila, Philippines. AP journalists Basilio Sepe in General Santos, Philippines, and Haruka Nuga in Bangkok contributed to this report.

Rescuers use heavy equipment as they conduct a search and retrieval operation at a damaged building following an earthquake in General Santos, Philippines, Tuesday, June 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Basilio Sepe)

In this photo provided by the Philippine Coast Guard, damaged structures are seen a day after a strong earthquake struck in General Santos city, southern Philippines on Tuesday, June 9, 2026. (Philippine Coast Guard via AP)

Rescuers use heavy equipment as they conduct a search and retrieval operation at a damaged building following an earthquake in General Santos, Philippines, Tuesday, June 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Basilio Sepe)

Soldiers secure a damaged building following an earhtquake in General Santos, Philippines Tuesday, June 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Basilio Sepe)

Rescuers install a tent as they prepare for a search operation following an earhtquake in General Santos, Philippines Tuesday, June 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Basilio Sepe)

A rescuer walks past a damaged building following an earhtquake in General Santos, Philippines Tuesday, June 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Basilio Sepe)

A man walks past a damaged building following an earhtquake in General Santos, Philippines Tuesday, June 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Basilio Sepe)

Rescuers inspect a damaged building following an earhtquake in General Santos, Philippines Tuesday, June 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Basilio Sepe)

Angry Marseille fans displayed banners attacking the club's American owner, Frank McCourt, as the former powerhouse went on to lose 2-1 to Paris Saint-Germain in the French league on Sunday in traditionally the biggest game in French soccer.

Ferran Torres scored his seventh goal in six matches for PSG and captain Marquinhos netted the winner after Angel Gomes leveled for Marseille, which continued its terrible start to the season.

Marseille's fifth straight loss in all competitions left it second to last in Ligue 1. Defending champion PSG moved up to sixth place, five points behind leader Monaco heading into the international break.

Fans at the Velodrome stadium mocked the “Champions Project” of McCourt, who aimed to return the club to the summit of French soccer and among the European elite when he took over the club 10 years ago.

The banners read: “2016: Champions Project. 2026: Ligue 2 Project? McCourt Out."

Upon arrival at the vibrant southern port city, McCourt pledged to revive Marseille by investing 200 million euros ($210 million) over four years. Large amounts of money have since been spent on a myriad of players, without success.

The former Los Angeles Dodgers owner bought Marseille in 2016, and the southern club has struggled to achieve stability.

This year Marseille failed to qualify for the Champions League after a chaotic season, missing out on millions in revenues. Because of financial constraints, the club did not recruit any new players during the summer transfer window, leaving new coach Bruno Genesio with few options.

Marseille dominated domestic soccer in the late 1980s and early 1990s but hasn’t won the French league title since 2010 and has not claimed a trophy since the now-defunct League Cup in 2012.

The match between Marseille and PSG is still considered the biggest in French soccer despite Marseille’s decline in recent years.

Known as “Le Classique,” it became popular during the 1990s when the arrival of big stars in the French league ignited a strong rivalry.

But Marseille, the first French team to win the Champions League back in 1993, has fallen well behind since PSG — now the two-time defending European champion — was taken over by Qatari investors in 2011.

This was the 37th match between PSG and Marseille since 2011, with the Parisian side boasting a record of 28 wins, five draws and just four defeats in that period.

However, the sense of fierce rivalry, on and off the field, is always there. Sunday's match was played without PSG fans after French authorities banned them from traveling due to the risk of violent clashes between supporters.

The hosts dominated early on, with Amine Gouiri and Amine Harit orchestrating Marseille’s attacks with pace, only to create half chances. PSG had the first real chance in the 12th minute when Ousmane Dembélé got behind the Marseille defense but sent his effort over the bar.

Marseille forward Neal Maupay missed a great opportunity in the first half when alone in the box after he was set up by Gouiri but completely fluffed his left-footed shot.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia came close to putting the visitors ahead in the 52nd minute from an astute cut-back pass from Dembélé.

Torres, who came on in the 59th minute, broke the deadlock seven minutes later with a powerful header from Désiré Doué’s fine cross.

PSG bolstered its star-studded attack by signing Torres from Barcelona on a five-year contract this summer. The forward scored Spain’s winning goal during extra time of the World Cup final against Argentina in July. It was his only goal of the tournament and he said it was “scored by 47 million people,” referring to Spain’s population.

Marseille equalized in the 72nd minute when Gomes beat Matvey Safonov from close range. But the relief for the hosts was short-lived.

Two minutes later, Marquinhos was not properly tracked by defenders and connected with a long ball from Nuno Mendes. He forced a reflex save from Jeffrey de Lange and scored from the rebound.

Marseille was left with 10 men in the 77th minute when captain Timothy Weah was sent off for a second yellow card.

See AP’s full soccer coverage here

PSG's Marquinhos, left, celebrates with Ferran Torres after scoring his side's 2nd goal during the French League One soccer match between Marseille and Paris Saint-Germain in Marseille, France, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Philippe Magoni)

Marseille fans light flares prior to the French League One soccer match between Marseille and Paris Saint-Germain in Marseille, France, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Philippe Magoni)

PSG's head coach Luis Enrique gestures during the French League One soccer match between Marseille and Paris Saint-Germain in Marseille, France, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Philippe Magoni)

Marseille's head coach Bruno Genesio reacts during the French League One soccer match between Marseille and Paris Saint-Germain in Marseille, France, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Philippe Magoni)

PSG's Desire Doue, right, falls on the pitch challenged by Marseille's Emerson Palmieri during the French League One soccer match between Marseille and Paris Saint-Germain in Marseille, France, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Philippe Magoni)

Marseille fans cheer for their team prior to the French League One soccer match between Marseille and Paris Saint-Germain in Marseille, France, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Philippe Magoni)