Bangkok: A 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck southern Philippines early this morning, killing at least three people and injuring many others. Several buildings collapsed in General Santos City on Mindanao Island. Local authorities have ordered evacuations of coastal areas due to the risk of a tsunami.
According to Thai News Agency, the earthquake struck at 7:37 a.m. local time, with its epicenter in the Sarangani Gulf off the coast of General Santos City on Mindanao Island, approximately 13 kilometers southwest. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported a magnitude 7.8 earthquake at a depth of 55 kilometers, while the German Geophysics Research Centre (GFZ) and the Indonesian Bureau of Geology and Engineering (BMKG) initially estimated the tremor at between 7.7 and 8.2 magnitude. This is considered one of the strongest earthquakes in the Philippines since 1990. In addition to the main earthquake, more than 16 aftershocks followed, the strongest measuring 6.5 magnitude.
Authorities have found at least three bodies in the General Santos area, with several others injured. Homes, a four-story commercial building, several shops, and a local radio station collapsed into rubble. A school building was also reported damaged. Rescue workers are searching for those who may be trapped under the collapsed buildings. Power outages occurred in the affected area but are gradually being restored. Internet access remains disrupted.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered disaster management agencies and the Philippine Red Cross to immediately assist the affected population, and ordered the urgent evacuation of coastal communities to higher ground. He also suspended all classes on Mindanao Island. It is estimated that waves could reach up to 3 meters in height near the epicenter. Meanwhile, Indonesian authorities ordered the immediate evacuation of residents in high-risk areas in the north, including Manado City, Gozontalo Province, and the San Gihe Islands, to safer locations. A small tsunami wave, approximately 20 centimeters in size, was detected in the North Moluccas region. The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami warning for the Okinawa Islands and the Pacific coast, predicting waves of around 1 meter high to hit the coast.
This earthquake marks the second major earthquake disaster on the island of Mindanao in less than a year, following a powerful 7.5 magnitude tremor in October 2025.