Powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake strikes southern Philippines

On June 8, 2026, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Mindanao, Philippines, with an epicenter approximately 20 to 56 kilometers from General Santos City. Initial reports on casualties and damage vary, with death tolls ranging between 12 and 46 individuals and over 200 people reported injured. Rescue efforts are ongoing in General Santos City, where responders are searching for survivors trapped under the rubble of collapsed commercial buildings. The quake caused landslides, structural damage, and minor tsunami waves reaching up to one meter in coastal areas. Tsunami warnings were briefly issued for several countries, including Indonesia, Taiwan, and Japan. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos advised residents in vulnerable areas to move to higher ground. Seismologists continue to monitor the region for aftershocks as emergency services assess the full extent of the destruction across the provinces of Sarangani, South Cotabato, and Davao Occidental.