Evacuation orders rang out across coastal Mindanao on Monday morning, June 8, after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake shook the waters off Sarangani province at 7:37 a.m., prompting authorities to warn of potentially dangerous tsunami waves and urging residents to move to higher ground without delay.
What We Know About the Earthquake
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) initially recorded the tremor at magnitude 7.0, with a depth of 10 kilometers. In a follow-up advisory, PHIVOLCS upgraded the earthquake to magnitude 7.8 at a depth of 33 kilometers. The epicenter was pinpointed at coordinates 05.57°N, 124.98°E — roughly 32 kilometers south of Maasim, Sarangani province.
PHIVOLCS warned the public that the earthquake was strong enough to cause significant structural damage and generate tsunami waves exceeding one meter in height, with dangerous wave activity potentially continuing for several hours after the initial shock.
International Agencies Issue Warnings
The threat was not limited to Philippine shores. The US Tsunami Warning System estimated that waves could rise between one and three meters above tide level in affected parts of the Philippines, according to its monitoring bulletins. Indonesia also issued its own tsunami warnings for vulnerable coastal zones, while Japan's Meteorological Agency separately released a tsunami advisory covering portions of its southern coastline — reflecting the far-reaching scale of the seismic event.
Destruction in General Santos City
Among the hardest-hit areas was General Santos City, located approximately 15 kilometers from the earthquake's epicenter. PHIVOLCS recorded Intensity VII — categorized as "destructive" — in the city, the strongest shaking reported in any locality. Radio reports from General Santos described scenes of falling furniture, damaged household appliances, and panicked residents streaming out of their homes as aftershocks continued to roll through the area.
Images circulating from General Santos showed a collapsed Jollibee outlet and other buildings that had partially crumbled under the force of the tremor. The General Santos City disaster office confirmed that aftershocks were still being recorded and that local authorities were actively assessing reports of damage and injuries. As of the latest available bulletins, no official death toll had been confirmed. PHIVOLCS stated that both structural damage and continued aftershocks were to be expected in the coming hours.
Sarangani Province: Near the Epicenter
In Sarangani, which sits closest to the earthquake's source, the effects were immediate and severe. Power supply and telecommunications were disrupted across the province, and local officials suspended classes. Sarangani's local disaster chief, Rene Punzalan, said a damage assessment was already underway, though at that point no confirmed reports of collapsed buildings had yet come in.
In Alabel town, the police building sustained visible cracks during what had been a routine flag-raising ceremony when the earthquake struck. Several people reportedly fainted amid the chaos. Police chief Benjie Ancheta described the quake as the most powerful he and his officers had ever experienced in the area.
Coastal Villages Begin Evacuating
In the coastal town of Maasim, disaster chief Arlene Hollero confirmed that the evacuation of shoreline villages was well underway. A particularly alarming sign was observed shortly after the tremor: seawater visibly receded from the coastline — a phenomenon widely recognized as a precursor to incoming tsunami waves. Additionally, a local bridge sustained cracks, and a roadside shrine featuring a large cross collapsed entirely from the shaking.
President Marcos Calls for Immediate Action
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. addressed the public directly, urging Filipinos living in affected provinces to take the tsunami warning seriously and relocate to higher ground without hesitation. His message was unequivocal: "Do not wait." Marcos assured the nation that the government would "not leave Mindanao behind" and confirmed that all relevant national agencies had been directed to mobilize response operations immediately.
The Office of Civil Defense and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council were identified as the lead bodies coordinating government relief and emergency response efforts across the affected provinces.
Situation Still Developing
Authorities continued to monitor the situation as aftershocks persisted and tsunami warnings remained in effect. Residents in coastal areas across several Mindanao provinces were advised to stay away from shorelines and remain in elevated locations until official all-clear signals were issued. PHIVOLCS said it would continue to release updated advisories as new data became available.
This is a developing story and details may change as official assessments and reports come in from affected areas.
Originally reported by: Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS)