A building damaged after an earthquake in General Santos, Philippines, June 8, 2026. (Photo: AP)
A powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck off the coast of Mindanao Island in southern the Philippines on June 8th has reportedly killed at least 32 people and injured 134, according to disaster response officials.
The epicenter was located about 20 km off the coast of Sarangani province. The tremors were strongly felt throughout Mindanao and extended to the city of Manado on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, about 420 km away.
In General Santos, one of the hardest-hit areas with a population of around 700,000, many people said it was the strongest earthquake they had ever experienced. Jojo Calma, 44, was driving his tricycle in front of a building when it collapsed. He said his children were at school when the earthquake struck but were all safe, although a relative's house was destroyed.
Video released by local authorities shows a building containing a fast-food restaurant collapsing, while people flee in panic amidst a cloud of dust. According to civil defense officials, most casualties in Mindanao are related to falling debris and landslides.
Debris is scattered across the road after an earthquake in General Santos, Philippines, on June 8, 2026. (Photo: AP)
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the immediate deployment of disaster response efforts in Mindanao, directing agencies to prepare relief supplies, evacuation centers, and readiness for rescue operations. “ The government is acting, and we will not abandon Mindanao,” Marcos said.
Tsunami warnings for southern Philippines, northern Indonesia, and the Malaysian state of Sabah on the island of Borneo were canceled more than six hours after being issued. Earlier, residents in coastal areas were urged to evacuate immediately to higher ground. The Japan Meteorological Agency also issued a warning, stating that it had recorded tsunami waves of 0.2 meters or less.
In General Santos, numerous shops and buildings were damaged, some structures reduced to piles of concrete and rubble. A hospital was evacuated due to concerns about cracks on the upper floors, while a building at the University of Notre Dame of Dadiangas collapsed, though no one was inside.
The Philippine seismological agency reported more than 200 aftershocks, with at least nine strong enough to be felt by people across Mindanao. The Philippines and Indonesia frequently experience earthquakes due to their location within the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region of intense seismic activity.
Source: https://vtv.vn/dong-dat-manh-o-philippines-it-nhat-32-nguoi-thiet-mang-10026060823453181.htm
