Magnitude 7.8 Earthquake in Philippines Leaves Eight Dead

At least eight people have been reported dead after a powerful earthquake measuring magnitude 7.8 struck off the southern Philippine island of Mindanao on Monday, according to the country’s civil defence office.

Authorities said the fatalities are still being verified as rescue and assessment operations continue across affected areas.

The strong offshore quake prompted tsunami warnings in the Philippines, neighbouring Indonesia and from the US Tsunami Warning System, with residents in coastal communities urged to move to higher ground as a precaution.

Local radio station DZBB reported scenes of panic in General Santos City, located about 15 kilometres from the epicentre, where aftershocks caused furniture to topple and damaged televisions and other household appliances, forcing residents to evacuate their homes.

Officials in General Santos said aftershocks were continuing and authorities were assessing reports of structural damage and injuries.

In Sarangani province, near the epicentre, power and telecommunications services were disrupted, while classes were suspended. Provincial disaster management chief Rene Punzalan said damage assessments were underway, although no building collapses had been reported immediately after the quake.

Disaster response mobilised

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said the government was acting swiftly to coordinate relief and emergency response efforts.

“The national government is moving and we will not leave Mindanao behind,” Marcos said in a statement.

The Philippines and Indonesia are located along the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire, making them among the world's most earthquake-prone regions.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) warned that tsunami waves exceeding one metre could affect coastal areas for several hours. Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) reported tsunami waves of up to 0.19 metres had been recorded.

Benjie Ancheta, police chief of Alabel town in Sarangani, said cracks appeared in the local police station following the tremor, which struck during a flag-raising ceremony and caused several people to faint.

“This is the strongest earthquake we’ve experienced,” Ancheta told Reuters.

Coastal evacuations underway

Residents in Indonesia’s northern city of Manado and communities across southern Philippines reported feeling strong shaking.

Indonesia’s disaster mitigation agency said there were no immediate reports of damage.

Arlene Hollero, disaster chief of Maasim town in Sarangani, said evacuations were underway in coastal villages as a precaution. While no casualties had been reported there, she said a bridge sustained cracks and a religious shrine featuring a large cross had collapsed.

“It's devastating,” Hollero told Reuters.

The German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) said the earthquake struck at a depth of 10 kilometres. The agency initially estimated the quake’s magnitude at 8.2 before revising it to 7.8. Philippine and Indonesian authorities separately reported magnitudes of 7.0 and 7.7.