Australia has offered humanitarian assistance to the Philippines after a devastating 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck the Mindanao region, leaving at least 35 people dead and dozens missing.
The earthquake hit southern Philippines on Monday, collapsing a building that housed popular fast food chain Jollibee and causing panic among schoolchildren in the Soccsksargen region. Tsunami warnings were issued across the island nation. By Wednesday, emergency services were still searching through rubble for at least a dozen people reported missing.
Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong expressed solidarity with the affected communities. "Our thoughts are with the Australian-Filipino community, the people of the Philippines, and all those affected by the earthquake near Mindanao," she said in a statement. "Australia is ready to provide humanitarian assistance if requested. We stand with our close friends at this time of great difficulty."
Senator Wong is currently in Berlin for bilateral meetings with European leaders, discussing topics including the war in Ukraine and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., son of the late dictator, announced on social media that he had directed all relevant government agencies to respond to the crisis and suspended all classes across Mindanao until further notice. "The national government is moving and we will not leave Mindanao behind," he said. "I am in constant communication with our regional offices and local chief executives on the ground."
Mindanao, located on the southern tip of the Philippines near Malaysia, has a history of crises. The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) fought a decades-long conflict with the central government seeking independence. The Abu Sayyaf Group, a jihadist criminal organization, has also been active in the area. In 2017, Philippine forces fought to liberate the city of Marawi from groups affiliated with the Islamic State. Additionally, alleged Bondi Beach gunmen Sayad and Naveed Akram are believed to have traveled to Davao City, the largest city in Mindanao, in 2025.
