A powerful earthquake of 7.8 magnitude struck off the southern Philippine island of Mindanao on Monday morning, killing at least 12 people and injuring more than 120 according to the latest reports by BBC.
The quake, centred near Sarangani province, caused buildings to collapse in General Santos City, triggered power outages and prompted tsunami warnings across parts of the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia.
The tremor hit at around 7:37 a.m. local time, when schools and government offices were beginning the day. In Sarangani’s Alabel town, police officers were attending a flag-raising ceremony when the building began to crack and several people fainted.
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PHIVOLCS initially measured it at magnitude 7.0 before revising upward to 7.8. Indonesia's BMKG measured it even higher at 8.2. The quake is being called the strongest to hit the Philippines since 1990 and was caused by movement along the Cotabato Trench, one of the most active fault lines in the Pacific Ring of Fire.
"The police building had some cracks immediately after the quake — which occurred during our flag-raising ceremony. Some people fainted."
— Benjie Ancheta, Police Chief, Alabel town, Sarangani
What is Cotabato Trench and why it matters?
The Philippines earthquake belt sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire - a zone of intense seismic activity that runs from Japan through Southeast Asia across the Pacific. The Cotabato Trench, which runs along the western coast of Mindanao, is one of its most dangerous fault systems. In 1976, an 8.1 magnitude earthquake along the same trench triggered a tsunami that killed an estimated 8,000 people. PHIVOLCS director Teresito Bacolcol noted that this year marks exactly the 50th anniversary of that disaster.
"As of now, there is one reported death and four injured. This is only an initial report. Many buildings were affected and rescue operations are ongoing."
— Master Sergeant Robert Dagon, General Santos City Police
What the Earthquake Damaged?
General Santos City, a tuna-processing and commercial hub with more than 700,000 residents, was among the worst-hit areas. A three-storey building housing a Jollibee fast food restaurant collapsed in a cloud of dust, startling bystanders.
Videos circulating online showed the moment the structure came down, with people fleeing in panic. Other footage showed a high school building collapsing, smashed windows, caved-in roofs, and vehicles buried under rubble.
Transmission lines across southwestern Mindanao were damaged, causing widespread power outages. The General Santos International Airport was temporarily shut. Several airlines cancelled flights. Hospital patients in Kidapawan City were evacuated to open areas. Schools across multiple provinces - including Cotabato City, Cagayan de Oro, and affected parts of Soccsksargen were suspended for the day. The Department of Education said structural assessments of quake-affected schools were under way.
Also Read: 62 Kilometres Below the Earth — What Manipur's Deep Quake Tells Us About the Geology of Fear
"It's a major earthquake and we're expecting damages. We've already seen some damaged buildings based on videos."
— Teresito Bacolcol, Director, PHIVOLCS (Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology)
Tsunami warnings Issued Across the Region!
Within minutes of the quake, PHIVOLCS issued a tsunami warning for nine provinces in Mindanao - including Sarangani, Davao Occidental, Tawi-Tawi, and Sulu. The first tsunami waves were expected to arrive between 7:37 a.m. and 9:37 a.m. and could continue for several hours.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) warned that waves up to 3 metres were possible on some Philippine coasts. Waves of up to 1 metre were monitored in Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani. An 83-centimetre wave was recorded by a gauge off Indonesia's Sulawesi island.
- Philippines Waves up to 3 m possible - 9 provinces ordered to evacuate
- Indonesia Manado, Gorontalo, Sangihe islands told to move to higher ground
- Japan Advisory issued - waves up to 1 m projected from 11:30 a.m.
- Malaysia Tsunami warning for Sabah state on Borneo island
- Taiwan / PNG Smaller sea changes possible
- Guam / Hawaii Advisory lifted - no threat confirmed
The quake also revived painful memories of the 1976 Moro Gulf disaster, when a powerful earthquake along the same region triggered a deadly tsunami. This time, tsunami warnings were issued soon after the tremor, forcing coastal residents in several provinces to move to higher ground.
Although the first recorded waves were lower than the worst-case projections, officials urged communities not to return home until the danger had fully passed.
Also Read: 7.5 Magnitude Earthquake Jolts Japan’s Northeast Coast, Tsunami Warnings Issued
President Marcos directed all relevant government agencies to act immediately. The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) were activated and deployed to coordinate response operations. Marcos also ordered the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to pre-position relief supplies and ensure evacuation centres were ready for displaced residents. Schools across affected provinces were suspended for the day.
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