Powerful 7.8-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Philippines, Leaving 15 Dead and 129 Injured

At 7:37 a.m. on June 8, 2026 (local time), a powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.8 struck the waters off the southern coast of Mindanao Island in the Philippines, resulting in at least 15 deaths and 129 injuries.

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake occurred approximately 60 kilometers south of General Santos City in South Cotabato province, with the epicenter at a depth of 55.2 kilometers. The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) initially announced the magnitude as 8.1, but later revised it to 7.8.

After the main quake, strong aftershocks followed, including one with a magnitude of 6.5, causing extensive damage such as building collapses. In General Santos, a fast food restaurant inside a shopping mall collapsed, and some school buildings were also reported to have collapsed.

Earthquake tsunami image. Pixabay

The Philippine Office of Civil Defense has reported that, so far, at least 15 people have died and 129 have been injured. Police and rescue authorities are currently conducting rescue operations throughout the affected areas.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that, as of now, there have been no confirmed casualties among Korean nationals, but some property damage, including the destruction of houses belonging to Korean residents, has been reported.

Immediately following the earthquake, the United States Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) issued tsunami warnings for the Philippines, Malaysia, and other nearby regions. The Philippine government also ordered residents of southern coastal areas to evacuate to higher ground, and President Ferdinand Marcos instructed the suspension of school classes and the evacuation of residents.

Subsequently, tsunamis with maximum heights of up to 1.4 meters were observed in the Philippines, Indonesia, Japan, and other areas. However, the PTWC announced later in the afternoon that most of the tsunami threat had subsided, while still urging vigilance as changes in sea level could continue.

Located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, the Philippines is a country prone to frequent earthquakes. In October of last year, a magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck Cebu Island in the central Philippines, killing at least 76 people.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.