The quake, the strongest to hit the Philippines this year, struck off the coast of Mindanao island at 7:37 a.m. local time, causing widespread panic and disruption across several southern provinces.

Authorities said the death toll rose after at least 17 fatalities were reported in Sarangani province, where a landslide buried homes in the mountainous town of Glan.Rene Punzalan, a disaster mitigation official in Sarangani, said 13 villagers were killed in the landslide, while four others died elsewhere in the province.

The new casualties brought the overall death toll from the earthquake to at least 32.The earthquake damaged buildings, disrupted transportation and displaced thousands of residents. Philippine disaster officials said most fatalities were caused by collapsing structures, landslides and falling debris across the provinces of Sarangani, South Cotabato, Davao Occidental and nearby Balut Island.

In General Santos City, a regional commercial hub with a population of more than 700,000, several buildings were severely damaged or collapsed, including a popular fast-food restaurant. Seven people were reported killed in the city, while police said at least 12 others remained missing.

Search and rescue operations were underway at damaged structures, including a warehouse and commercial buildings, according to emergency responders.President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the suspension of classes in affected areas and directed national disaster agencies to mobilize emergency assistance.

Officials said more than 100 students suffered minor injuries or fainted during school flag-raising ceremonies as the quake struck shortly after public schools reopened following the summer break.The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said the earthquake occurred near Maasim town in Sarangani province at a depth of about 33 kilometers.

The U.S. Geological Survey estimated the depth at 55 kilometers, differences that are common during initial assessments.Authorities recorded multiple aftershocks, including tremors reaching magnitude 6.5, and warned residents to avoid returning to damaged buildings until structural inspections are completed.The quake generated tsunami warnings across parts of the Pacific.

Waves of up to 1.4 meters were recorded along sections of the Philippine coastline, while smaller waves were detected in Indonesia, Palau and Japan.The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center later said the broader tsunami threat had largely passed, prompting Philippine authorities to lift evacuation warnings by mid-afternoon.

The earthquake temporarily shut General Santos International Airport and led to the cancellation of 17 domestic flights, according to aviation authorities.Situated on the Pacific Ring of Fire, the Philippines is among the world’s most disaster-prone countries and frequently experiences major earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and tropical cyclones.

Syria’s Ministry of Awqaf said two aircraft carrying nearly 700 Syrian pilgrims from Madinah were diverted to Amman after airspace disruptions linked to the latest exchange of attacks between Iran and Israel.

The ministry said the passengers were transferred by bus from Jordan to Syria, with each vehicle carrying between 35 and 40 pilgrims destined for Damascus and Aleppo.

The disruption followed temporary airspace closures by both Syria and Iraq after Iran launched missiles toward Israel and Israel responded with airstrikes overnight. Iraqi authorities initially announced a 72-hour closure of national airspace on Sunday before later reopening it. Despite the reopening, several commercial flights across the region remained canceled.

The delays underscore the continuing impact of the regional conflict on civilian aviation networks across the Middle East, where airlines have repeatedly altered routes or suspended services because of security concerns.

Syrian authorities said approximately 24,500 Syrians participated in this year’s Hajj pilgrimage to Makkah and Madinah, which concluded in late May.

The first group of returning pilgrims arrived in Damascus last week aboard a Syrian Airlines flight from Jeddah carrying 134 passengers, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency.

The conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States has increasingly affected regional transportation and aviation infrastructure, forcing airlines and authorities to adjust operations amid recurring missile, drone and airstrike activity across the Middle East.

The disruption began shortly after 9:00 a.m. local time when two pilots reported what appeared to be drones in the vicinity of the airport, according to police.

In coordination with German air traffic control authorities, security officials ordered the temporary closure of the airport’s runways as a precautionary measure, a police spokesperson said.

Authorities deployed a police helicopter and emergency personnel to assess the situation and search the surrounding area for any potential aerial threat.

Airport operations resumed at 10:05 a.m. after investigators completed their initial assessment, airport officials said.

An airport spokesperson said an extensive search conducted by emergency services found no evidence of a threat to public safety, allowing normal flight movements to restart.

The incident underscores ongoing concerns among European aviation authorities regarding unauthorized drone activity near airports, where even unconfirmed sightings can trigger operational disruptions due to safety risks posed to commercial aircraft during takeoff and landing.

Munich Airport, one of Germany’s busiest aviation hubs, did not immediately provide details on the number of flights affected by the temporary suspension.

The Istanbul-to-Kathmandu flight ignited after sparks emerged from the aircraft’s right landing gear during landing, according to Gyanendra Bhul, a spokesman for Nepal’s civil aviation authority.

“All aboard are safe, the rescue part is over. We are now investigating the accident,” Bhul told AFP.The incident briefly disrupted operations at Nepal’s busiest international gateway, with the airport’s sole runway closed for nearly two hours before reopening later in the morning.

Authorities did not immediately disclose the extent of damage to the aircraft or specify the model involved in the incident.The accident renewed scrutiny of aviation safety in Nepal, a mountainous nation known for difficult flying conditions, remote airstrips and rapidly changing weather patterns that have challenged pilots and airlines for decades.

Nepal’s aviation sector has faced repeated criticism following a series of fatal crashes in recent years. The European Union continues to blacklist all Nepalese airlines from operating within EU airspace over safety concerns.

In response to mounting international pressure, Nepalese authorities last year announced plans to upgrade aviation infrastructure, including installing improved radar systems and enhanced weather-monitoring equipment.

Monday’s accident also revived memories of a previous runway incident involving Turkish Airlines in Kathmandu. In 2015, a Turkish Airlines aircraft carrying 224 passengers skidded off the runway at Tribhuvan International Airport during landing.

No passengers were injured, but the disabled aircraft shut the airport for four days, triggering widespread international flight cancellations.

Major hubs including Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi have faced operational constraints, leaving passengers unable to travel as planned while airlines adjust routes, suspend services and redeploy capacity to other regions.

Carriers across Europe, North America and Asia have suspended flights to destinations such as Tel Aviv, Beirut, Riyadh and Dubai, with some cancellations extending into the summer and autumn travel seasons. Several airlines are also avoiding the airspace of conflict-affected countries, including Iran, Iraq, Syria and Israel, increasing flight times and operational costs.

Emirates said it is operating a reduced schedule while continuing to serve more than 100 destinations, while Etihad Airways reported maintaining flights from Abu Dhabi to around 80 destinations under adjusted operations.European carriers including Air France and KLM have suspended multiple Middle East routes, while Lufthansa and affiliated airlines extended cancellations to a wide range of destinations until late October.

Low-cost and regional carriers have similarly scaled back operations, citing safety concerns and logistical constraints.In North America, Delta Air Lines has delayed the resumption of key routes to Tel Aviv, and Air Canada has extended cancellations to both Tel Aviv and Dubai through early September.

Asian airlines, including Cathay Pacific and Japan Airlines, have also suspended services to Gulf destinations while adding capacity on European routes to meet shifting demand.Meanwhile, some carriers are reallocating resources to less-affected markets.

Airlines such as Qantas and others are increasing flights to European cities, responding to a surge in passenger demand away from disrupted Middle Eastern corridors.Industry participants say the disruptions are being compounded by rising jet fuel costs and shortages linked to constrained oil supplies, forcing airlines to balance safety, cost pressures and demand volatility.

With uncertainty persisting over the duration of the conflict, airlines continue to revise schedules, with many warning that disruptions could extend for months as geopolitical tensions reshape global aviation patterns.

Major transit centers including Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi have faced closures or limited operations, leaving thousands of passengers stranded and prompting carriers to adjust schedules deep into the summer and, in some cases, later in the year.

The disruption has affected both passenger and cargo operations, with airlines citing safety concerns and restricted airspace.European carriers have taken some of the most extensive measures.

The Lufthansa Group has suspended flights to multiple destinations including Dubai, Tel Aviv and Tehran until at least late May, with several routes halted through October. Air France-KLM has similarly paused services to key regional cities, while Finnair continues to avoid airspace over Iran, Iraq, Syria and Israel.

North American carriers have also scaled back operations. Delta Air Lines has cancelled its New York–Tel Aviv route and delayed the restart of other Israel-bound services, while Air Canada has suspended flights to Tel Aviv and Dubai until September.

Middle Eastern airlines are operating under constrained conditions. Emirates reported a reduced flight schedule following partial reopening of regional airspace, while Etihad Airways said it continues to operate a limited network from Abu Dhabi.Asian carriers have also adjusted capacity.

Cathay Pacific has cancelled flights to Dubai and Riyadh until June while adding capacity to European destinations to meet shifting demand. Singapore Airlines extended its Dubai suspension through May and increased flights to London and Melbourne.

Several low-cost and regional carriers, including Wizz Air and Pegasus Airlines, have halted services to multiple Middle Eastern destinations, reflecting the broad impact across the aviation sector.

Airlines have also begun reallocating capacity to Europe, Africa and parts of Asia, where demand has surged as passengers reroute travel plans away from the conflict zone. Some carriers, including Qantas, have increased frequencies on European routes to accommodate displaced demand.

The evolving situation has created uncertainty for airlines and travelers alike, with many carriers indicating that further schedule adjustments will depend on security conditions and airspace availability in the coming weeks.

The fire department said a man in his 50s was found trapped under a car in Nea Makri, northeast of Athens, amid severe weather conditions. Emergency services reported nearly 500 calls across the greater Athens area, including more than 30 rescue operations.

Authorities issued emergency alerts and closed schools in Athens and other regions as the storm intensified. Ferry services, a key transport link for Greece’s islands, remained suspended in many areas due to rough seas.

The national weather service warned of continued severe conditions, forecasting intense rainfall, thunderstorms and possible hail across much of the country.

Localized flooding has already been reported in several areas.On Wednesday, flights to Crete were disrupted after an African dust storm reduced visibility, forcing some aircraft to reroute.

Officials said the storm system, which has affected large parts of the country for three days, is expected to ease by Friday.

The outage, described by the state-run utility as a “total disconnection” of the national system, was triggered by a failure at a thermoelectric power unit that caused a cascading breakdown across the grid. The Cuban Electric Union said micro-grids were being activated to restore electricity to critical services such as hospitals and water treatment facilities.

Cuba’s power generation relies on eight thermoelectric plants, many operating for more than four decades and prone to repeated breakdowns and maintenance shutdowns. The system has struggled to meet demand, resulting in prolonged daily blackouts.In Havana, outages can last up to 15 hours, while in other parts of the island they can exceed 40 hours, according to local accounts.

As night fell during the latest outage, much of the capital was left without lighting, with residents relying on mobile phone flashlights to navigate streets.Some businesses in tourist areas remained open using generators, but residents described growing frustration with the frequency of disruptions.

“This is becoming unbearable,” said one Havana resident, reflecting widespread fatigue over recurring outages.

The energy crisis has intensified since disruptions to fuel supplies earlier this year. No oil shipments have reached Cuba since January 9, placing additional strain on electricity generation and forcing cutbacks in sectors including aviation and tourism.

The situation has been compounded by geopolitical tensions. U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened tariffs on countries supplying oil to Cuba, while also making remarks supporting political change in Havana. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel has warned that any external aggression would be met with resistance.

Maritime tracking data indicated that tankers carrying Russian oil and diesel may be en route to the island, though their status remains unclear.

The repeated outages come amid broader shortages of food, medicine and basic goods, contributing to rising public discontent. Demonstrators vandalised a provincial office of the ruling Communist Party last weekend, underscoring growing tensions.

Despite the disruption, some residents continued working under difficult conditions. Small shopkeepers operated by flashlight, while fishermen cast lines along the darkened coastline, reflecting the persistence of daily life even as the energy crisis deepens.