More than 1,000 families in Barangay Lagao, General Santos City lost their homes to the massive magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck on Monday, June 12, 2026.

From the highway, the damage to many establishments and buildings caused by the tremor is visible. Thousands of residents were also left homeless.

Inside the Hicban Subdivision, many houses are already uninhabitable.

“Hindi po namin inexpect na ganito po ang nangyari kasi dugo’t pawis po namin ang pagpapatayo ng bahay. Sa isang iglap lang, seconds lang ganito na po. Kakatapos lang po ang pagpagawa ng bahay,” a resident affected, Rizzilou Lahoylahoy, said.

“I-abandoned na po talaga ‘to. Gusto lang po sana namin na may magtulong po na makaahon kami kasi talagang back to zero po lahat kami dito ng buong pamilya naming,” she added.

The area sustained heavy damage with residents believing that a fault line may have emerged. This after concrete surfaces have ruptured, and the ground itself has subsided, creating what appears to be a staircase.

A resident has put up a tent outside their home. Aside from their fear of aftershocks, they are also alarmed that the ground just a few steps away has sunk and appears to have formed a sinkhole.

“Matakot naman gud kami matulog sa loob kasi baka may lindol, matakot kami ba ‘yung lupa kasi malaki ang bitak-bitak sa amin,” another resident affected, Cristelyn De Castro, said.

Other residents were forced to sleep by the road because their community gym, which had been serving as a temporary shelter, also sustained large cracks.

They said they put signs to make motorists and passersby along the highway aware of the extent of damage to their homes. Residents said the damage was not visible from the road, which caused delays in the arrival of assistance.

“Hiling lang namin ay mapansin din kami at mabigyan dito ng ayuda lalo na po ang kailan namin ay pagkain, tubig inumin at the same time tent kay hindi secured diyan po sa covered court,” a resident, Jenelyn Depedro, said.

According to the barangay, family food packs from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) have already arrived in their area. Barangay health workers have also started distributing claim stubs to affected families.

“Ang una talagang nagtulong ‘yung mga private sector katulad ng mga simbahan, meron din tayong mg business. So, yun yung nauna namin. ‘Yung kahapon, may unti-unting dumarating galing sa gobyerno tulad nitong bagong pilipinas nakuha namin kagabi,” Barangay Lagao Chairman Jaime Tatad said.

Authorities also reported that aside from the more than 1,000 houses destroyed, more than 4,000 houses were partially damaged.

“Ang ginagawa namin ngayon ginalista namin lahat ng affected para ipasa namin doon sa LGU at tsaka para derecho sa national,” Tatad added.