The death toll from the very powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck the southern Philippines on Monday has risen to 46, while rescue teams continue searching for missing persons in the debris of collapsed buildings.
The earthquake, which occurred offshore near the island of Mindanao, caused buildings to collapse and triggered landslides in many areas.
The Philippines disaster response agency reported 45 deaths and added that it is still searching for 17 people who remain missing.
However, its count does not include bodies recorded by civil defence authorities. According to them, a 39-year-old man, Joey Delubio, was found dead in the rubble.
Search and rescue operations continue despite the dangers posed by aftershocks.
Hundreds of aftershocks, both strong and weaker ones, have been recorded following the main quake.
Most of the additional deaths were reported in the province of Western Davao. Most victims lost their lives due to landslides and building collapses, according to Rafaelito Alejandro, a civil defence official who spoke to a local radio station.
