A magnitude 7.8 quake shook Sarangani and surrounding provinces Monday morning, jolting people on the way to work and thousands of students who attended the flag raising ceremony marking the start of the school year.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council is validating reported deaths of at least 19 while 12 were missing and 134 injured.

Office of Civil Defense (OCD) deputy spokesperson Diego Agustin Mariano said three died and five were injured in Davao Occidental; while 16 people died and 12 were missing in Soccsksargen.

In Region 12, Mariano said 10 died in General Santos City, two in Tupi, South Cotabato, three in Glan and one from Malapatan both in Sarangani.

"Reports of casualties are being monitored and will be validated, however no official reports as of reporting time," he said.

Lorenzo Mendoza, Department of Education Davao Region supervisor. told Storycon that while he was addressing students in Davao del Sur ''the ground slowly shook. '' ''It was mild at first but it (shaking) became stronger and longer.'' Davao del Sur is close to Sarangani, he said.

There were Facebook videos which showed parents grabbing their children as they left a gym.

Mariano said three fatalities were reported from Davao Occidental, three from General Santos City and two from South Cotabato.

"Reports of casualties are being monitored and will be validated, however no official reports as of reporting time," he said.

"There are reports of major damage in various infrastructure. Electricity and communications are affected as well.

Mariano said the "most affected region" includes Soccsksargen, Davao, Zamboanga Peninsula, and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

He noted that "evacuation are also ongoing on the affected coastal areas" following a tsunami warning that was issued by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) for possible "destructive tsunami for the coasts of Sarangani, Davao Occidental, Tawi-tawi, Sulu, Basilan, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, Sultan Kudarat, and South Cotabato provinces."

Pablo Sawi, a Phivolcs science research analyst, told Storycon that their seaside measuring site in Maasim, Sarangani reported a height of 1.41 meters. The tsunami alert was lifted on Monday afternoon.

Phivolcs said "the earthquake has an offshore epicenter located 32 kilometers west of Maasim, Sarangani, and an estimated depth of 33 kilometers"

"Based on the location of the earthquake, focal mechanism, and aftershock distribution, the earthquake may be attributed to subduction along the Cotabato Trench," it stated.

The trench moved in August 17, 1976. triggering a quake and tsunami where at least 5,000 perished..

"Using the Phivolcs Earthquake Intensity Scale (PEIS), the highest reported intensity is PEIS VII (Destructive), was felt in General Santos City. The ground shaking was felt as far as Abuyog and Dulag in Leyte at PEIS II (Slightly felt)," it added.

Junie Castillo, OCD spokesman, said initial report shows that at least 47 structure were damaged in Soccsksargen and Davao regions which includes General Santos International Airport; Veneracion Medical Arts Tower, General Santos; NDDU Integrated Basic Education Department, General Santos; Lon Padido Bridge, Malapatan, Sarangani; Savemore, Brgy. Calumpang; Jollibee General Santos; and McDonald, General Santos.

Mariano noted that "evacuation are also ongoing on the affected coastal areas" following a tsunami warning that was issued by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) for possible "destructive tsunami for the coasts of Sarangani, Davao Occidental, Tawi-tawi, Sulu, Basilan, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, Sultan Kudarat, and South Cotabato provinces."

Phivolcs said "the earthquake has an offshore epicenter located 32 kilometers west of Maasim, Sarangani, and an estimated depth of 33 kilometers"

"Based on the location of the earthquake, focal mechanism, and aftershock distribution, the earthquake may be attributed to subduction along the Cotabato Trench," it stated.

"Using the Phivolcs Earthquake Intensity Scale (PEIS), the highest reported intensity is PEIS VII (Destructive), was felt in General Santos City. The ground shaking was felt as far as Abuyog and Dulag in Leyte at PEIS II (Slightly felt)," it added.

It noted that as of 11:00 am, "Phivolcs - Philippine Seismic Network (PSN) has recorded a total of 138 aftershocks ranging from magnitude 1.3 to magnitude 6.7." Robina Asido/PHS