MANILA, Philippines, 08 June (H.S.): A massive magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck the southern Philippines early Monday morning, prompting tsunami warnings across the region and causing building collapses with rescue operations still underway .
The quake hit at 7:37 a.m. local time off the coast of Sarangani province in Mindanao, with its epicenter about 26 kilometers west-southwest of the coast and a depth of 55 kilometers. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology initially reported magnitude 7.0 before upgrading it to 7.8 .
Tsunami Threat
Tsunami waves up to 3 meters (10 feet) could strike some Philippine coastlines, while Indonesia and Malaysia may face waves up to 1 meter (3 feet) . The first waves could arrive within two hours and continue for hours .
Authorities urgently advised coastal residents in Sarangani, Davao Occidental, South Cotabato, and surrounding provinces to evacuate immediately to higher ground or move farther inland [3][5]. Indonesia also issued tsunami warnings for the Maluku Islands, Sulawesi, and Borneo .
Damage and Injuries
Buildings collapsed in General Santos City, including a convenience store, a Jollibee restaurant, and a high school in Matanao . A police building sustained damage, and power outages were reported .
Police confirmed at least one person died and four others were injured, with rescue teams working to reach more victims . A full assessment of damage and casualties is still ongoing .
Why Quakes Happen Here
The Philippines sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, an arc of seismic faults that makes it one of the world's most disaster-prone countries . The nation experiences frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, plus about 20 typhoons and tropical storms each year .
This marks the strongest earthquake to strike the Philippines since 1990 . Six aftershocks measuring magnitude 4.0 or greater have already been recorded, including three above magnitude 6.0 .
Over 7 million people across southern and central Mindanao experienced strong to severe shaking, with rescue operations continuing across the region .
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
