Strong Earthquake Off Mindanao Triggers Tsunami Warnings, Casualties Reported

By Aurax Radio | June 8, 2026 | 2 min read

A powerful offshore earthquake struck southern Philippines on Monday, triggering tsunami warnings across the region and causing casualties, widespread damage and evacuations in coastal communities. Authorities warned of possible aftershocks as emergency teams assessed the scale of destruction.

Damaged buildings and rubble in an urban area following a strong earthquake in the Philippines.

Structural damage is seen in General Santos City after a powerful offshore earthquake struck Mindanao, triggering tsunami warnings.

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck off the coast of Mindanao early Monday, triggering tsunami warnings in the Philippines and neighboring countries and causing at least 15 deaths, according to disaster officials and international monitoring agencies. The quake’s epicenter was located near the Sarangani area in the southern Philippines at a shallow depth, shaking several provinces across Mindanao and prompting residents in coastal communities to move to higher ground.

Buildings collapsed in several areas including General Santos City, where structural damage was reported in commercial districts and schools. In some locations, students were evacuating school grounds when the quake struck, and emergency responders were deployed to search for survivors in damaged structures. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology initially issued a tsunami warning, later downgraded in some areas after small waves were observed and no major destructive tsunami materialized, according to regional assessments.

The Philippines’ disaster agency reported casualties and injuries across multiple provinces, with search-and-rescue operations continuing as aftershocks followed the initial tremor. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued alerts for parts of the western Pacific, including Indonesia and nearby island nations, before later adjustments as the threat diminished. Officials said damage assessments were ongoing and warned residents to avoid unstable structures as authorities evaluated infrastructure, power outages and coastal impacts.

Sources: Information from AP, BBC News, Al Jazeera, CNN and Reuters..

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