A powerful magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck off the island of Mindanao in the southern Philippines on Monday, leaving at least 15 people feared dead and triggering tsunami warnings across several countries. The quake occurred early in the morning as schools were reopening after a long break, with tremors felt strongly in a dozen provinces and as far as 420 kilometers away in Manado, Indonesia.
Tsunami Alerts and Immediate Response
Tsunami alerts were issued in the southern Philippines, northern Indonesia, and the Malaysian state of Sabah on Borneo island. The epicenter was located about 20 kilometers off Mindanao's Sarangani province. Philippine authorities are assessing the damage, with the office of civil defense working to verify initial reports of 15 deaths and 129 injuries, mostly from falling debris.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr ordered an immediate disaster response in Mindanao, an island roughly the size of South Korea. Agencies have been directed to prepare relief supplies, set up evacuation centers, and be ready for possible rescue operations. "The national government is moving and we will not leave Mindanao behind," Marcos said in a statement.
Aftershocks and Damage Assessment
The Philippine seismology agency reported at least nine strong aftershocks across Mindanao on Monday morning, the strongest at magnitude 6.7. The full extent of the damage remains unclear as assessments continue. Video from General Santos, a city of about 700,000 people, showed the collapse of a building housing a fast food restaurant, with panicked onlookers fleeing as dust filled the air. A hospital in General Santos was evacuated due to cracks on higher floors, and a building at Notre Dame of Dadiangas University collapsed, though no one was inside.
"I had to duck and shelter myself under the table. And it was very long and strong," said university president Manuel de Leon. Images from Sarangani province showed damaged shop fronts, collapsed signs, smashed windows, and piles of rubble.
Military Deployment and International Assistance
The Philippine military has deployed disaster response units to affected areas. A video from a local school captured the moment the quake struck, showing children swaying rapidly before fleeing as a makeshift shelter collapsed. Benjie Ancheta, police chief of Sarangani's Alabel town, said the quake occurred during a flag-raising ceremony, causing some people to faint. "This is the strongest earthquake we've experienced," Ancheta said.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim offered assistance, posting on X: "I pray for the safety and wellbeing of all those affected, wishing them strength and courage in the difficult days ahead."
Regional Tsunami Warnings and Evacuations
The US Tsunami Warning System said multiple countries could be affected, and Australia initially warned of potential tsunami waves on its northern coasts. Japan's meteorological agency issued an advisory, observing a tsunami of 0.2 meters or lower, with some ferry disruptions and precautionary beach closures. In Indonesia's Manado, witnesses felt the quake strongly, but only minor damage was reported, according to Abdul Muhari, spokesperson for Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency. A tsunami with wave heights up to 0.75 meters was detected in parts of North Sulawesi, prompting residents to move to safer areas, including those on the remote Sangihe Islands. "They are now evacuating to the higher ground... away from the coast, to avoid the potential tsunami," resident Jufry Dalita said.
This earthquake comes eight months after the Philippines suffered its deadliest tremor in 12 years—a magnitude 6.9 quake off Cebu that killed 79 people. Two powerful quakes struck Mindanao two weeks later, the strongest at magnitude 7.4. The Philippines and Indonesia experience hundreds of quakes annually, sitting on the tectonically complex "Pacific Ring of Fire," a seismically active belt from South America to the Russian Far East.
