A powerful magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck off the southern Philippines on Monday, killing at least 19 people, injuring more than 200 and triggering a tsunami that sent waves up to one metre high into nearby coastal areas.
The earthquake hit at 7:37am local time and was centred at sea off Mindanao, the country’s second most populous island. It was the strongest earthquake to strike the Philippines this year. Philippine authorities said the quake damaged buildings and infrastructure, particularly in the southern port city of General Santos, while tsunami-related damage was reported in at least one coastal community.
Teresito Bacolcol, director of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, described it as “a major earthquake” and urged residents not to return to damaged homes and buildings until safety assessments had been completed. He warned that aftershocks could cause already weakened structures to collapse.
Witnesses described scenes of panic as the ground shook violently. Rod Sosmeña, regional director of the Office of Civil Defence, said he initially thought the vehicle he was travelling in had suffered a flat tyre. “The shaking was very strong and people dashed out of houses into the streets,” he told the Associated Press from General Santos.
Ednar Dayanghirang, another regional disaster-response official, said he could “hardly stand and keep my balance when the ground shook” as he was leaving his home in the southern city of Davao.
According to Bacolcol, the earthquake occurred at a depth of 33 kilometres, approximately 32 kilometres southwest of Maasim town in Sarangani province. The US Geological Survey estimated the depth at 55 kilometres. Differences in measurements between monitoring agencies are common in the immediate aftermath of major earthquakes. Aftershocks as strong as magnitude 6.5 were later recorded.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr ordered the suspension of classes and instructed disaster-response agencies to immediately assist affected provinces. “The national government is moving and we will not leave Mindanao behind,” he said.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said the tsunami threat had largely passed about five hours after the quake. Philippine authorities lifted tsunami warnings by mid-afternoon.
Officials said at least 19 people died, most of them in building collapses and landslides, while thousands of residents were displaced. Seven of the fatalities were reported in General Santos, where several small structures, including a popular hamburger restaurant, collapsed or sustained severe damage.
Other deaths were linked to falling debris, damage to a mosque and landslides in Sarangani, South Cotabato, Davao Occidental and Balut Island. Authorities were also investigating reports that students had been trapped inside a two-storey school building that collapsed in General Santos. The national police said at least 12 people remained missing in the city.
The Bureau of Fire confirmed that search and rescue operations were under way in a damaged building and warehouse in General Santos.
The earthquake struck on the first day of classes after the country’s summer holiday. Dayanghirang said more than 100 students suffered minor injuries, including bruises, while some fainted during flag-raising ceremonies as panic spread.
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines temporarily closed General Santos International Airport and cancelled 17 domestic flights.
Local media reported that part of a commercial building housing a provincial radio station collapsed. Staff evacuated safely, although it was not immediately clear whether anyone else remained trapped inside the four-storey structure. Debris from damaged buildings also struck tricycle taxis parked nearby.
Tsunami waves measuring around one metre were recorded in the provinces of Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani. A wave reaching 1.4 metres was observed along the coast of Kiamba in Sarangani province. Smaller waves were also detected across the region.
An 83-centimetre tsunami wave was recorded off Indonesia’s Sulawesi Island, while waves of around 30 centimetres were measured in Palau. The Japan Meteorological Agency reported waves of up to 20 centimetres on Chichijima Island and in the town of Kushimoto.
The earthquake was also felt in Malaysia’s Sabah state on Borneo Island, located close to the southern Philippines.
The Philippines is among the world's most disaster-prone countries due to its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a seismically active zone where earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are common. The country is also regularly affected by typhoons and tropical storms.
