URGENT APPEAL: Over 75,000 Families Devastated by Magnitude 7.8 Mindanao Earthquake, Philippines

The Situation

MINDANAO, Philippines — June 11, 2026 — CADIS International mobilizes a relief operation to the survivors of the recent 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Southern Mindanao on June 8, 2026. The epicenter of the Sarangani earthquake is at Maasim, Sarangani, which generated destructive ground shaking, triggering tsunami waves and causing widespread devastation across the SOCCSKSARGEN, Davao, Zamboanga, and BARMM regions. The disaster has disproportionately affected vulnerable Indigenous Peoples, Moro communities, fisherfolk, and rural farming households.

CADIS International's response is led by CTF Philippines (Mindanao chapter) in collaboration with other local response agencies like Consortium for People’s Development Disaster Response (CPDDR) and Sisters Association of Mindanao (SAMIN).

The Human Cost (as of June 11, 2026)

The humanitarian impact is overwhelming and continues to rise:

47 Deaths Reported
688 Injured Persons
31 Missing Persons
75,324 Families Affected
12,641 Houses Damaged (2,289 totally destroyed)

Thousands of families remain displaced, sleeping outdoors in makeshift shelters or in crowded evacuation centers. This displacement is driven by acute fears of structural collapse as numerous aftershocks, including a magnitude 5.9 tremor on June 10, continue to rock the region.

Overwhelming Infrastructure Damage and Critical Access Issues

Preliminary estimates cite over 666.5 million Pesos in infrastructure damage. Critical facilities are compromised:

Hospitals and Schools: Significant damage to health institutions and educational facilities.
Lifelines: Severe damage to roads, bridges, communication networks, and power lines.
Access: Ongoing communication disruptions and impassable roads mean several coastal and upland barangays remain isolated, delaying essential aid delivery and full damage assessments.

Priority Humanitarian Needs

Our rapid assessments indicate an urgent need for the following essentials:

Food Security: Rice, food packs, and clean drinking water.
Emergency Shelter: Tarpaulins, plastic sheets, building materials, blankets, and sleeping mats.
Health and Sanitation: First-aid supplies, essential medicines, and hygiene kits.
Protection: Psychosocial support, especially for children and displaced families.

Current Response & Gap

Local community organizations have already initiated relief operations, despite severely limited resources. For example, initial efforts in Malapatan reached 51 families with rice. However, this assistance is far below the overwhelming scale of the need. Thousands of families continue to await assistance.