A powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck off the southern coast of Mindanao in the Philippines early Monday morning local time, unleashing severe shaking across General Santos City and nearby provinces, toppling parts of buildings, triggering tsunami warnings, and leaving at least one person dead with several others injured.
The quake hit at 7:37 a.m. Philippine Standard Time on Tuesday, with its epicenter located roughly 8 miles southwest of General Santos City off Sarangani province in the Soccsksargen region.
The German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) initially reported the quake as magnitude 8.2 before later revising it downward to approximately 7.8. Regardless of the exact measurement, the quake ranks among the strongest to hit the region in recent years.
It originated from thrust faulting along the Cotabato Trench subduction zone. Multiple agencies confirmed the magnitude at 7.8, making it the strongest to hit the Philippines since the deadly 1990 Luzon earthquake.
WATCH:
BUILDING COLLAPSES IN GENSAN AFTER 7.8 EARTHQUAKE
LOOK: Structural damage is seen in General Santos after a severe 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit on Monday morning.
Power outages have been reported across the city, and multiple aftershocks continue to be recorded.
PIA SarGen… pic.twitter.com/w4ryymAlWr
— NewsWatch Plus PH (@newswatchplusph) June 8, 2026
KUSOG NGA LINOG SA UNANG ADLAW SA KLASE
Read story here: https://t.co/cg8VQk29TS
WATCH: A school building at Matanao National High School (MNHS) in Davao del Sur collapses after a powerful magnitude 7.8 earthquake shakes parts of Mindanao on Monday morning, June 8, coinciding… pic.twitter.com/53qjbTzuO0
— CDN Digital (@cebudailynews) June 8, 2026
WATCH: A building in General Santos City is seen swaying after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake strikes parts of Mindanao on Monday morning. | : Ernes Dos/Facebook via Reymond Salgan, https://t.co/EDjVS4ZpUM trainee
Visit https://t.co/ngTZPXCpXg for updates, stories and more. pic.twitter.com/Uhgvc7dV4n
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) June 8, 2026
WATCH: Mall crumbles in General Santos City (Gensan) after major earthquake in Philippines pic.twitter.com/Os9KXLFhk9
— Rapid Report (@RapidReport2025) June 8, 2026
Following the earthquake, tsunami warnings and advisories were issued in portions of the Philippines, Indonesia, and other nearby areas as officials urged residents in vulnerable coastal regions to move to higher ground. Small tsunami waves were observed in some locations, and emergency evacuations were launched in several communities.
But for Hawaii, officials delivered reassuring news.
Hawaii News Now reported:
The PTWC said a tsunami threat existed for parts of the Pacific closer to the earthquake, but based on all available data, there was no tsunami threat to Hawaii.
Tsunami advisories were issued for Guam and the Mariana Islands. The PTWC said it was not expecting a tsunami threat for those areas, but was awaiting further data.
Again, there is NO tsunami threat to Hawaii from this earthquake.
At least one person was killed and four others injured, with reports of people trapped in rubble and many suffering panic attacks or fainting during the intense tremors that reached intensity VIII (Very Destructive) on the Philippine scale in parts of Sarangani. Aftershocks, including a strong 6.5 magnitude event, have continued to shake the region, hampering initial rescue and damage assessment operations.
Prayers are needed for the victims, the injured, the missing, and the first responders on the ground. Rescue operations and damage assessments are ongoing.
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