Powerful 7.8 Earthquake Strikes Southern Philippines Causing Deaths and Widespread Damage

A magnitude 7.8 earthquake shook the southern Philippines early Monday, 8 June 2026,  leaving at least four people dead and injuring more than 200 others, while damaging buildings, schools, and a key access bridge in General Santos City.

The quake, recorded at 7:37 am local time, was centred offshore about 13 kilometres southwest of General Santos, a major commercial hub in Mindanao. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology confirmed the tremor was triggered by movement in the Cotabato Trench at a depth of 10 kilometres.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. urged residents in coastal areas to move to higher ground as precautionary tsunami warnings were issued across the Philippines and extended to Indonesia and Malaysia. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre later announced that the immediate threat had eased within five hours, though sea levels could remain unstable for several hours.

In General Santos, three fatalities and more than 130 injuries were reported. Several small buildings partially collapsed, while a vital bridge sustained dangerous cracks. Another death was confirmed in Davao Oriental province. The city’s international airport was temporarily closed, forcing the cancellation of 17 domestic flights.

Witnesses described chaotic scenes as residents rushed into the streets. More than 100 students fainted or sustained minor injuries during school flag‑raising ceremonies. A four‑storey commercial building partly collapsed, and falling debris damaged tricycle taxis parked nearby.

Officials stressed that this was the strongest earthquake to hit the Philippines in 2026, underscoring the nation’s vulnerability to seismic activity. “It’s a major earthquake and we’re expecting damage,” said institute director Teresito Bacolcol, noting that early reports already showed significant structural impact.

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