The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said the damage to property caused by the 7.8 magnitude Mindanao earthquake has reached P1 billion in General Santos City.

“Obviously, napakalakas nito. Isa ito sa pinakamalakas sa mundo this year,” DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon said in an interview.

“Initial assessment, merong roughly running total nasa isang bilyon na yung damages sa iba’t ibang building sa Gensan pa lang ‘yon,” he added.

(Obviously, it is quite strong. This is one of the strongest earthquakes in the world this year. The initial assessment shows that, roughly, there is already a billion in damages in General Santos City alone.)

DPWH said it will coordinate with the local government units to identify critical buildings, conduct damage assessments, and to secure buildings in anticipation of possible aftershocks.

The city's public information officer also said among the damaged structures included malls, hospital, hotels, restaurants, churches, banks, and an airport.

"Mayroon 5 malls, 7 hospitals, 4 hotels, limang schools, tatlong restaurants, dalawang bangko, dalawang pharmacy, at dalawang simbahan. And then sa airport din po mayroong structural damage," General Santos City Public Information Officer, Rombel Catolico, said.

In a PHIVOLCS incident primer, aftershocks in the epicentral area are expected for several days to weeks, and some may be felt in nearby provinces.

In earlier reports, PHIVOLCS Director Teresito Bacolcol said the affected areas could experience aftershocks as high as magnitude 6.8.

PHIVOLCS reminds the public to refrain from entering buildings that sustained cracks during the earthquake.

The reported death toll in the magnitude 7.8 Mindanao earthquake has increased to 19, according to the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) on Monday.

“Doon sa mga reports na natanggap natin, sa ngayon meron pong 19 na hindi nakaligtas doon sa lindol,” OCD spokesperson Junie Castillo said in an interview.

(From the reports we have received, so far, there are 19 who did not survive the earthquake.)

“Again, this is for verification and validation of our management of the dead and missing cluster,” he added.

Of the reported deaths, 16 were recorded in Soccsksargen, while three were reported in Davao Region.

Castillo said some fatalities were initially reported to have been caused by collapsed structures, falling debris, and landslides.

Based on the initial data, seven people were reported missing, and 134 were reported injured.

Around 10,000 families from Sarangani and Sultan Kudarat have been evacuated. Also, 700 families were affected.

Search, rescue, and retrieval operations are ongoing.

The magnitude 7.8 Mindanao earthquake hit offshore Sarangani on Monday morning, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.

PHIVOLCS said the earthquake was recorded at 7:37 a.m. and initially recorded at magnitude 7 with a depth of 10 kilometers.

But in a second advisory, the state seismologist upgraded the magnitude to 7.8 with a depth of 33 kilometers. It was located 05.57°N, 124.98°E - 032 km S 04° W of Maasim, Sarangani.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Monday ordered the suspension of classes in all levels across affected areas in Mindanao following this morning's magnitude 7.8 earthquake.

The President said the class suspension will remain in effect “until further notice.”

“The safety of our children comes first. DepEd (Department of Education) will coordinate with local government units on this,” Marcos said in a statement.

The earthquake that struck off the coast of Sarangani on Monday morning disrupted the opening day of classes across parts of Mindanao.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara said engineers have been deployed in the affected regions to inspect school facilities.

Angara added he is closely monitoring regional developments.

(With reports from Lyjah Tiffany Bonzo, GMA News)