PORTALBERITA.CO.ID - A massive magnitude 7.8 earthquake violently struck off the coast of Mindanao island in the southern Philippines early on Monday, June 8, 2026. The severe tremor immediately prompted regional tsunami warnings to be activated across several surrounding nations.
The early morning seismic event occurred as local schools were reopening, generating significant shaking felt across more than a dozen provinces. The tremors were powerful enough to be registered as far away as Manado on Indonesia’s Sulawesi island, situated approximately 420 kilometers distant from the epicenter.
Tsunami alerts were issued for the southern Philippines, northern Indonesia, and the Malaysian state of Sabah on Borneo island after the quake hit roughly 20 kilometers offshore from Sarangani province. Authorities are currently racing to ascertain the full scope of the disaster on the ground.
As reported by Businesstimes, initial reports indicated at least 15 fatalities and 129 injuries across the affected region, primarily attributed to falling debris from damaged structures. The Philippine office of civil defense has initiated verification efforts concerning these preliminary casualty figures.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. swiftly ordered a comprehensive disaster response operation across Mindanao, directing national agencies to mobilize relief supplies and establish essential evacuation centers. "The national government is moving and we will not leave Mindanao behind," stated President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
The Philippine seismology agency confirmed that the initial 7.8 tremor was followed by at least nine substantial aftershocks throughout the morning, the strongest of which registered a magnitude of 6.7. Military specialized disaster response units have been confirmed deployed to the most heavily impacted zones.
In General Santos City, home to about 700,000 residents, local footage captured the dramatic collapse of a building housing a fast-food restaurant amidst fleeing onlookers. Structural integrity concerns also forced the evacuation of a local hospital due to visible upper-floor cracks.
Manuel de Leon, the university president, described the intensity of the shaking experienced at the Notre Dame of Dadiangas University, where a building collapsed while empty. He recounted the experience by saying, "I had to duck and shelter myself under the table. And it was very long and strong," said Manuel de Leon.
Benjie Ancheta, the police chief in Alabel town, noted the severity of the event for locals, stating that some individuals fainted during a police ceremony. He added, "This is the strongest earthquake we’ve experienced," said Benjie Ancheta.
