At least three confirmed dead in Soccsksargen; buildings collapse in General Santos City as coastal residents race to higher ground
A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck off the southern coast of the Philippine island of Mindanao on Monday morning, killing at least three people, injuring four others, collapsing buildings, and triggering tsunami warnings that sent hundreds of thousands of residents fleeing from coastal communities across nine provinces.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) recorded the quake at 7:37:41 a.m. local time, with its epicenter located offshore of Sarangani province in the Soccsksargen region. PHIVOLCS placed the epicenter approximately 13 kilometers southwest of General Santos City, at a depth of 10 kilometers.
The quake is the strongest to hit the Philippines since 1990. PHIVOLCS initially reported a magnitude of 7.0 before revising it upward to 7.8; the United States Geological Survey and the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre put the magnitude at 7.8, at depths of 55.2 km and 45 km respectively, while Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG) placed the moment magnitude at 8.2. On the PHIVOLCS earthquake intensity scale, a maximum intensity of VII — classified as Destructive — was instrumentally recorded at General Santos.
Tsunami Warning
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center warned that waves as high as three meters could hit coastal areas of the Philippines, with waves of up to one meter possible in parts of Indonesia and Malaysia. PHIVOLCS forecast that the first tsunami waves would begin arriving between 7:37 a.m. and 9:37 a.m. local time, and cautioned that these waves could continue for hours.
PHIVOLCS instructed residents in coastal areas of nine provinces — including Sarangani, Davao Occidental, Tawi-Tawi, and Sulu — to evacuate immediately to higher ground or move further inland. Boat owners in harbors and shallow coastal waters were ordered to secure their vessels and leave the waterfront; vessels already at sea were advised to remain in deep water until further notice.
Officials in Indonesia and Japan also issued alerts warning of potentially hazardous waves and directed citizens in coastal zones to move to safety.
Buildings Collapse, Flights Canceled
A building housing a Jollibee restaurant and a Love Radio studio collapsed in General Santos City, as did a high school in Matanao. A Philippine Red Cross photo circulated online showed the ruins of the fast food outlet, where emergency personnel gathered outside. A donation center also collapsed.
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) canceled multiple flights and temporarily suspended operations at General Santos Airport. Power outages were reported across affected areas of Mindanao, and workers in Davao City — the region’s largest urban center — were photographed evacuating their offices as the tremors hit.
Casualties
The Philippine National Police’s Police Regional Office 12 confirmed in a 10:50 a.m. report that at least three civilians were dead and four others injured in the Soccsksargen region. The Office of Civil Defense said additional reports of casualties were being monitored and validated, with assessment teams deployed across affected communities.
Presidential Response
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. called on Filipinos in affected provinces to heed the tsunami warning and move to higher ground immediately, stressing: “Do not wait. Your life is more important than anything left behind.” The President directed all relevant government agencies to mobilize disaster response operations.
Seismological Context
The earthquake was caused by thrust faulting on a north-south striking, west-dipping fault, or alternatively a north-northwest striking, east-northeast dipping fault. The initial event was followed by more than an hour of aftershocks, according to PHIVOLCS. Mindanao sits along one of the world’s most seismically active zones, straddling multiple fault systems associated with the Philippine Sea Plate.
The U.S. National Tsunami Warning Center said the quake posed no threat to the coasts of the United States. The U.S. Embassy in Manila confirmed its American Citizens Services unit and the Consular Agency in Cebu remained fully operational, and urged American nationals in affected areas to follow local authority guidance.
This is a developing story. Casualty figures and damage assessments are expected to rise as emergency teams reach affected areas. All key data cited above reflects verified reports from PHIVOLCS, the U.S. Geological Survey, the Philippine National Police, and the Office of Civil Defense as of approximately 11:00 a.m. Philippine Standard Time on June 8, 2026.
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