Manila, June 8
A powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck the southern Philippines on Monday morning, killing at least 19 people and injuring more than 200 others, authorities said. The offshore quake triggered panic across several provinces, damaged buildings and infrastructure, and generated tsunami waves along nearby coastlines.
According to officials, the earthquake struck off Mindanao island at a depth of around 33 kilometers. The tremor caused severe shaking in several urban centers, including General Santos City, where some buildings partially collapsed and roads and public infrastructure sustained damage.
Authorities said a one-meter tsunami wave reached parts of the southern coastline shortly after the quake. Smaller waves were also recorded in Indonesia, Palau, and southern Japan. Tsunami warnings were lifted by Philippine authorities mid-afternoon after officials confirmed the immediate threat had passed.
Residents in affected areas rushed out of homes and buildings as the quake struck. Disaster management teams reported damage to coastal communities, including several stilt houses and shanties near the shoreline.
“It’s a major earthquake,” Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology Director Teresito Bacolcol said while warning residents not to return to damaged structures because of the risk of aftershocks.
Regional disaster officials described scenes of panic during the tremor. Rod Sosmeña, regional director of the Office of Civil Defense, said people ran into the streets as the ground shook violently.
Another disaster response official, Ednar Dayanghirang, said he struggled to maintain balance while leaving his home during the quake.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the cancellation of classes in affected areas and directed disaster response agencies to immediately assist impacted provinces. He assured residents that the national government would continue relief and rescue operations in Mindanao.
Emergency teams remained deployed across quake hit regions late Monday as authorities continued assessing casualties, structural damage, and the impact on coastal communities. Officials also urged residents to remain alert for possible aftershocks.
