A powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck off the southern Philippine island of Mindanao on Monday, triggering tsunami warnings across the Philippines, Indonesia and parts of the Pacific, while authorities rushed to assess damage and possible casualties.
The quake struck off the coast of Mindanao, prompting residents in coastal communities to move to higher ground after warnings were issued by Philippine authorities, neighbouring Indonesia and the US Tsunami Warning System.
There were no immediate reports of deaths or major destruction, but local officials said assessments were ongoing as aftershocks continued to shake affected areas.
DZBB radio in General Santos City, located about 15 kilometres from the epicentre, reported falling furniture, damaged televisions and other household appliances as residents fled their homes for safety.
The disaster management office in General Santos said authorities were evaluating reports of property damage and injuries while monitoring continued aftershocks.
In Sarangani province, near the epicentre, power and telecommunications services were disrupted and school classes were suspended, according to local disaster chief Rene Punzalan. He said officials were conducting inspections but had not received reports of collapsed buildings.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the government was mobilising resources to support affected communities.
“The national government is moving and we will not leave Mindanao behind,” Marcos said in a statement.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) warned that tsunami waves exceeding one metre could reach some coastal areas and continue for several hours. Indonesia’s geophysics agency, BKMG, reported tsunami waves measuring 0.19 metres had been detected.
Benjie Ancheta, police chief of Alabel town in Sarangani, said cracks appeared in the local police station after the earthquake struck during a flag-raising ceremony.
The Philippines and Indonesia lie along the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire, where earthquakes and volcanic activity occur frequently due to the movement of tectonic plates.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
