A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck the southern Philippines, off the island of Mindanao. The first tremor was recorded at 7:37 AM local time, followed by a series of aftershocks.
According to CNN, citing Philippine authorities, the earthquake affected General Santos and surrounding areas, home to about 720,000 people. Schools were among the damaged facilities: June 8 marked the start of the new school year in the Philippines.
By the time of publication, at least 16 people were known to have been killed and more than 200 injured. The Associated Press reports that the tremors triggered a tsunami of up to 1 meter, causing damage along the coast.
The Matanao National High School building, damaged by a series of earthquakes in 2019, collapsed after the magnitude 7.8 earthquake.
Damage assessment is ongoing. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he had instructed government agencies to carry out evacuations immediately where necessary and begin rescue operations. He also urged residents not to ignore warnings of a possible tsunami.
“Move to higher ground right now. Do not wait. Your life matters more than everything you will leave behind,” Marcos said.
The Philippine archipelago lies on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a zone of intense volcanic and seismic activity.
The previous powerful earthquake in the Philippines occurred on September 30, 2025. About 70 people were killed then, and several hundred more were injured.