News Screen – An earthquake measuring 7.8 magnitude rocked the southern region of the Philippines on Monday, June 8 2026, killing at least 35 people and leaving dozens of other residents still missing. The disaster also triggered tsunami warnings in a number of countries in the Pacific region before they were finally lifted.
The Philippine National Disaster Management Authority reported that at least 134 people were injured, while more than 12 people were still being searched.
The earthquake, which was centered off the southern coast of General Santos City, also triggered a series of strong aftershocks, including a 6.5 magnitude earthquake that occurred several hours after the main shock.
Also Read: BMKG Ends Tsunami Early Warning for Philippine M7.7 Earthquake, Sea Level Rise Detected in Indonesia
In General Santos City, which has a population of around 720 thousand people, the death toll reached 12 people. Rescue teams are still searching for a number of victims who are suspected of being buried in the rubble of buildings.
A number of buildings were reported to have suffered heavy damage. One of the shopping centers housing fast food outlets reportedly collapsed, while a school building also collapsed even though it was not in use at the time.
In Sarangani Province, the most severe impact occurred due to landslides triggered by the earthquake. Head of Sarangani Disaster Management, Rene Punzalan, said that at least 14 people died in the Glan area after residents’ houses were buried by landslide material.
“Landslides occurred shortly after the earthquake and caused many casualties. A number of areas are still difficult to contact due to electricity and communication problems,” he said.
Apart from casualties, thousands of residents were evacuated from coastal areas following a tsunami warning issued by local authorities. More than 2,000 residents in Sarangani were moved to safer locations pending developments in the situation.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center previously issued a potential tsunami warning that could impact the Philippines, Indonesia, Palau, Taiwan and Papua New Guinea. However, after further monitoring, the warning was lifted because the threat of large waves was no longer detected.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. instructing residents in coastal areas to immediately evacuate while the warning is still in effect. The government has also suspended teaching and learning activities in a number of areas on Mindanao Island to prioritize public safety.
As of Monday evening, rescue teams were still carrying out search and evacuation operations in a number of affected locations. The Philippine government continues to record damage to buildings and the need for assistance for residents who have lost their homes due to the disaster.
The Philippines is one of the countries located in the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area with high seismic activity which frequently experiences earthquakes and volcanic activity.
In recent years, a number of large earthquakes have also been recorded to shake the Mindanao region and cause loss of life and damage to infrastructure.***
