Crews Search for Survivors After Philippines Hit by 7.8 Earthquake

Well now to that breaking news overnight, the Philippines rocked by a powerful earthquake.The death toll quickly rising there as crews search through the debris of collapsed buildings for survivors.NBC's Janice Mackey -Freer joins us with the very latest.Janice, good morning.

Craig, good morning.Even in a place accustomed to earthquakes, this one was intense.At least 19 people are dead, dozens are injured, and a fuller picture of the destruction is only now emerging.of devastation from a disaster after a powerful earthquake shook the Philippines, measuring magnitude 7 .8 and centered offshore some 20 miles deep.Elementary students returning to school after their summer break huddled together as strong shaking brought down the roof while triggering three -foot tsunami waves along the coast.Among the area's hardest hit, the southern port city of General Santos, where several buildings collapsed.

This is what it looked like inside one of them, in the rush to get people out.The airport sustaining damage and closed temporarily.The quake hitting just after 7 .30 a .m.local time, with a series of aftershocks that followed.For hours, a tsunami warning was in effect across the Pacific, the president declaring an emergency.

The region in the so -called Ring of Fire experiences hundreds of earthquakes every year.The challenge now, with widespread damage and thousands displaced, getting help to those who need it.With evacuation and relief efforts underway, the Philippines military is being deployed to help out rescue teams.People are also being warned to stay out of damaged homes and buildings because strong aftershocks mean there's a real risk even more could collapse.correct.

Just like you for on that breaking news for us in this.Thank you.