OAN Staff Addie Davis
12:50 PM – Monday, June 8, 2026
A massive 7.8 magnitude earthquake shook the southern portion of the Philippines, with reports emerging of collapsed buildings and fatalities as a result.
The earthquake originated south of the island of Mindanao on Monday morning and caused significant damage to parts of the Sarangani province, including in the city of General Santos, which boasts a population of more than 700,000.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), about 15 million people were exposed to moderate to severe shaking. The Associated Press reported 35 fatalities, as well as more than 200 people injured. However, these numbers will likely be updated later in the day and in the next few days.
“A strong earthquake has struck off the coast of Sarangani this morning, and a tsunami warning is now in effect across several coastal provinces in Mindanao,” said Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on X after the event.
Marcos announced that he would be ordering the suspension of all classes in the affected areas, and he asked his fellow countrymen to listen to the tsunami warning.
“To our kababayans in the affected provinces, please heed the tsunami warning. Move to higher ground now. Do not wait. Your life is more important than anything left behind,” he said.
Tsunami warnings were issued to surrounding coasts, and tsunami waves were reported with heights of up to about one meter, or roughly 3 feet, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS).
PHIVOLCS also reported that a total of 138 aftershocks had occurred, ranging from 1.3 magnitude all the way to 6.7 magnitude. Aftershocks can continue for days and even weeks.
The AP reported that several buildings, mainly low-rise, had collapsed or sustained heavy damage in General Santos and that tsunami damage had been reported in at least one southern coastal village.
The outlet also said Rene Punzalan, a provincial disaster-mitigation official, told the radio network DZBB that a landslide was reported in Glan, Sarangani province, which killed 13 people. Four other villagers died in the province, he added.
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