A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck off the coast of Sarangani province at 7:37 a.m. on Monday, June 8, prompting the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) to issue a tsunami warning and order coastal residents across several Mindanao provinces to evacuate immediately to higher ground.
PHIVOLCS initially recorded the quake at magnitude 7.0 with a depth of 10 kilometers, then upgraded it to magnitude 7.8 at a depth of 33 kilometers in a second advisory. The epicenter was located at 05.57°N, 124.98°E, approximately 32 kilometers south of Maasim, Sarangani.
PHIVOLCS warned of damage and tsunami waves above one meter that could continue for several hours. The US Tsunami Warning System estimated waves could reach one to three meters above tide level in parts of the country. Indonesia also issued tsunami warnings for its coastal areas. Japan's Meteorological Agency separately issued a tsunami advisory for parts of its southern coast.
The strongest reported shaking was Intensity VII — classified as "destructive" — in General Santos City, approximately 15 kilometers from the epicenter. Radio reports from the city described falling furniture and damaged appliances as aftershocks continued and residents fled their homes. Photos from General Santos showed a collapsed Jollibee outlet and other crumbling buildings.
The General Santos disaster office said aftershocks were still being felt and that authorities were assessing reports of damage and some injuries. There was no officially confirmed death toll as of the latest bulletins. PHIVOLCS said damage and aftershocks are expected.
In Sarangani, near the epicenter, power and telecommunications were down and classes were suspended. Local disaster chief Rene Punzalan said a damage assessment was underway with no reports yet of collapsed buildings. In Alabel town, the police building cracked during a flag-raising ceremony; some people fainted. Police chief Benjie Ancheta described it as the strongest earthquake they had experienced.
In Maasim, disaster chief Arlene Hollero said evacuation of coastal villages was underway. Water briefly receded after the quake — a known precursor to tsunami waves — and a bridge cracked while a shrine with a large cross collapsed.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. urged Filipinos in affected provinces to heed the tsunami warning and move to higher ground immediately, saying, "Do not wait." He said the national government would "not leave Mindanao behind" and had directed all relevant agencies to act, with the Office of Civil Defense and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council coordinating the response.
This is a developing story.
Source: Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS)