A powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck off the southern Philippine island of Mindanao on Monday, triggering tsunami warnings across the Philippines, Indonesia, and parts of the Pacific, as authorities moved swiftly to assess potential damage and casualties.
The quake occurred off the coast of Mindanao, prompting residents in several coastal communities to evacuate to higher ground after alerts were issued by Philippine authorities, Indonesia’s monitoring agencies, and the U.S. Tsunami Warning System.
There were no immediate reports of deaths or major destruction at the time of filing this report, though officials said assessments were ongoing amid continued aftershocks.
DZBB radio in General Santos City, about 15 kilometres from the epicentre, reported incidents of falling furniture, damaged televisions, and other household items as residents rushed out of their homes for safety.
Local disaster officials in General Santos said teams were evaluating reports of possible injuries and property damage while monitoring ongoing seismic activity in the region.
In nearby Sarangani province, close to the epicentre, power supply and telecommunications services were disrupted, while authorities suspended school activities, according to local disaster management chief Rene Punzalan.
He added that inspections were underway, although no building collapses had been confirmed.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the government was mobilising emergency resources to assist affected communities.
“The national government is moving and we will not leave Mindanao behind,” Marcos said in a statement.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) warned that tsunami waves exceeding one metre could affect some coastal areas for several hours following the quake.
Indonesia’s geophysics agency, BMKG, reported that small tsunami waves measuring about 0.19 metres had already been detected.
Police chief of Alabel town in Sarangani, Benjie Ancheta, said cracks were observed at a local police station after the quake struck during a flag-raising ceremony.
The Philippines and Indonesia lie along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a highly active seismic zone where earthquakes and volcanic eruptions frequently occur due to shifting tectonic plates.
