Philippine officials credited years of disaster-preparedness drills for preventing a higher death toll after a magnitude 8.0 earthquake struck the south, killing 46 and leaving 38 missing. - The quake injured at least 688 and displaced over 45,000 people, damaging more than 12,600 houses.
- Viral videos showed schoolchildren following safety protocols during the quake, with no injuries reported at one school. - Officials expressed concern over building collapses that should have withstood the quake if building codes were followed.
The Philippines, located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, remains one of the world's most disaster-prone countries.