7.8 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Southern Philippines, Killing at Least Eight and Triggering Tsunami Warnings
MANILA — June 8, 2026 — A powerful magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck off the southern coast of the Philippines on Monday, June 8, killing at least eight people, injuring more than 200, and causing widespread structural damage across Mindanao island, authorities said.
The earthquake struck at 7:37 a.m. local time at a depth of approximately 33 kilometers (21 miles), with its epicenter located 32 kilometers (20 miles) southwest of the coast of Maasim town in Sarangani province, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) . The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported the same magnitude and placed the epicenter approximately 24 kilometers west of Mindanao island’s Sarangani province .
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Casualties and Damage
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) confirmed eight fatalities, though validation of the deaths was ongoing, according to Xinhua news agency . At least five fatalities were reported in the southern city of General Santos, with an additional death reported in Davao Oriental province . The Philippine News Agency, citing local media, reported that over 200 people were injured across affected areas .
“A number of buildings collapsed. Many buildings were affected, but I cannot enumerate them now because we are busy with ongoing rescues,” Master Sergeant Robert Dagon of the General Santos City police told AFP .
Videos verified by news agencies showed a shopping mall in General Santos City reduced to rubble, while a building within a school compound was also destroyed . Local media reported partial collapses of buildings and significant cracks in key infrastructure, including an important access bridge in General Santos .
The earthquake was felt across a wide swath of Mindanao. Phivolcs reported the following intensities :
- Intensity VII — General Santos City
- Intensity VI — Palimbang and Senator Ninoy Aquino, Sultan Kudarat
- Intensity V — Davao City; Kidapawan City; Carmen, Cotabato; and several municipalities in Sultan Kudarat and Zamboanga del Norte
Instrumental intensities reached Intensity VIII in Malapatan, Sarangani, and Intensity VII in Koronadal City and Santa Maria, Davao Occidental .
Tsunami Warnings Issued
Phivolcs issued a tsunami warning for nine coastal provinces immediately following the earthquake, urging residents to evacuate to higher ground or move farther inland . The US Pacific Tsunami Warning Center warned that tsunami waves could reach 1 to 3 meters (3 to 10 feet) above tide level in parts of the Philippines .
Tsunami waves measuring approximately one meter were recorded in parts of the southern Philippines, including the provinces of Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani . Smaller sea-level fluctuations were observed elsewhere. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center later said the primary tsunami threat had largely subsided but cautioned that unusual sea-level changes could continue for several more hours .
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Regional Alerts
Neighboring countries also issued tsunami alerts following the quake. Indonesia recorded a tsunami wave of around 83 centimeters off Sulawesi Island and instructed officials in North Sulawesi, northern Gorontalo province and the Sangihe islands to direct residents to evacuate to higher ground . Malaysia issued tsunami alerts for coastal areas of Sabah state .
Japan’s meteorological agency issued a tsunami advisory for swathes of its Pacific coast, projecting waves of up to one meter to hit different regions from 11:30 a.m. local time . Taiwan, Palau and Papua New Guinea were also placed under advisory by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center .
Aftershocks Continue
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology reported 138 aftershocks as of 11:00 a.m. local time, with magnitudes ranging from 1.3 to 6.7 . A powerful 6.1 magnitude aftershock struck the area approximately two hours after the main quake, according to the USGS .
Government Response
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ordered the immediate mobilization of all relevant government agencies and urged residents in coastal areas to evacuate without delay .
“To our kababayans (countrymen) in the affected provinces, please heed the tsunami warning. Move to higher ground now. Do not wait. Your life is more important than anything left behind,” Marcos said in a statement .
The President directed the Office of Civil Defense and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council to coordinate response and monitoring operations. He also ordered the Department of Social Welfare and Development to pre-position relief supplies and ensure evacuation centers are operational, and the Department of Public Works and Highways to stand by for damage assessment and road clearing .
Marcos suspended classes at all levels in affected areas across Mindanao until further notice, prioritizing student safety .
Infrastructure and Transport Disruptions
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines temporarily suspended operations at General Santos City Airport following the quake and the tsunami warning, leading to the cancellation of 17 domestic flights .
In neighboring provinces, more than 100 students reportedly suffered bruises or fainted during panic-driven evacuations from schools, according to ABP Live . Hospitals evacuated patients as a precaution .
Seismic Context
The Philippines lies along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” an arc of intense seismic activity stretching from Japan through Southeast Asia and across the Pacific basin . The country is among the world’s most disaster-prone nations, frequently experiencing earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and typhoons .
Mindanao lies near the convergence of several major tectonic plates, making it one of the most seismically active zones on the planet . Eastern Mindanao was rocked by a pair of earthquakes of 7.4 and 6.7 magnitude in October 2025 that killed at least eight people .
As of Monday afternoon, rescue operations continued across affected areas, with authorities warning residents to avoid re-entering damaged buildings due to the risk of aftershocks .
SOURCES / INPUTS
- Anadolu Ajansı: 5 feared dead as powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake strikes Mindanao, Philippines
- Vietnam+: Philippines earthquake leaves initial casualties, triggers tsunami alerts across region
- Philippine News Agency: Marcos orders immediate gov’t response after Mindanao quake
- Xinhua: At least 1 killed in magnitude 7.8 offshore earthquake in S. Philippines
- CNA: Earthquake of magnitude 7.8 strikes off southern Philippines, tsunami warnings issued
- People’s Daily: 8 reported dead in S. Philippine strong earthquake
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