A magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck offshore near Maasim, Sarangani on Monday morning disrupted school operations across parts of Mindanao, affecting over 3.2 million learners and nearly 129,000 education personnel, according to the Department of Education (DepEd).
Based on DepEd Situation Report No. 2, the quake occurred at 7:37 a.m. with its epicenter located about 32 kilometers southwest of Maasim at a depth of 33 kilometers.
The agency classified the tremor as a strong tectonic event with the potential to trigger significant damage and successive aftershocks.
DepEd said 3,239,964 students, 128,861 personnel, and 6,224 public schools across 33 divisions in Regions IX, X, XI, XII, and Caraga were affected.
Classes were suspended in several areas as schools carried out evacuations, safety checks, and coordination with local disaster response offices.
Strong ground shaking was recorded at Intensity VII in General Santos City, while nearby areas in Sultan Kudarat and parts of Mindanao experienced Intensity V to VI levels. Instrumental monitoring also recorded Intensity VIII in Malapatan, Sarangani.
Reports of infrastructure damage in parts of Sarangani and General Santos City were initially received, alongside tsunami alerts and precautionary evacuations in coastal communities, as authorities continued verifying possible casualties and structural impact.
Education officials said contingency protocols were activated across schools, with monitoring ongoing for aftershocks, while national agencies were directed to support response operations and ensure readiness of evacuation facilities.
