Deadly Philippines Earthquake
7.8 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Philippines, Killing 35, Collapsing Buildings, and Triggering Tsunami
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A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck the southern Philippines on June 8, killing at least 35 people and triggering tsunami waves along the Mindanao coast, according to AP News. The quake hit about 32 kilometers southwest of Maasim, Sarangani Province, at 7:37 AM local time, collapsing buildings and knocking out power across the region.
By June 9, the death toll had climbed to 41, with more than 488 people injured and over 20,000 displaced, AFP reported. PHIVOLCS, the country's volcano and earthquake agency, recorded more than 1,100 aftershocks within the first 24 hours, including one measuring magnitude 6.7.
Tsunami Waves and Landslides Hammer Sarangani Coast
Tsunami waves up to 1.5 meters high slammed into the coasts of Sarangani, Sultan Kudarat, and Zamboanga within minutes of the quake, according to Al Jazeera. PHIVOLCS issued warnings for nine coastal provinces, urging residents to move to higher ground immediately. The warnings were not lifted until 3:00 PM local time.
A massive landslide buried houses in Glan, Sarangani, around 10:30 AM, DZBB Radio reported. General Santos City, a major urban hub, suffered a total blackout. Rod Sosmeña, Regional Director of the Office of Civil Defense, described the moment the quake hit: "The shaking was very strong and people dashed out of houses into the streets... our pickup truck suddenly jerked and I thought we had a flat tire," he told AP News.
Modern Buildings Collapse, Raising Code Enforcement Fears
Among the structures that collapsed were a three-story Jollibee restaurant and parts of Notre Dame of Dadiangas University in General Santos City, according to MindaNews. Analysts say the failures suggest that building code enforcement in Mindanao lags behind Metro Manila, even for relatively new construction.
PHIVOLCS Director Teresito Bacolcol warned residents to stay out of damaged structures. "It's a major earthquake... we're expecting damage and we've already seen collapsed buildings based on verified footage," he said, as reported by AP News. Over 117 government buildings and several key bridges also sustained cracks, with repair costs expected to far exceed ₱1 billion (about US$20.3 million).
Tuna Capital Shuts Down, Global Supply Chain at Risk
General Santos City is known as the "Tuna Capital of the Philippines." The quake forced major processing plants, including Alliance Select Foods International, to suspend operations, according to Bilyonaryo Business News. The shutdown is expected to last until at least June 16, threatening global supplies of canned and frozen tuna.
The economic damage extends beyond fish. Schools suspended operations for 6.2 million learners across 6,200 schools, UN OCHA reported. Patients in damaged hospitals were moved to outdoor tents. Philippine Red Cross Chairman Richard Gordon said, "People are afraid that the hospital might collapse under them... many are being treated in tents under the scorching sun," per the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
Marcos Orders Full Emergency Response Amid Political Scrutiny
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered all disaster agencies to mobilize and suspended classes across Mindanao. "The national government is moving and we will not leave Mindanao behind," he said, according to the Philippine Information Agency. The government tapped Quick Response Funds to speed up aid delivery without going through standard procurement.
The response faces heavy scrutiny. A deadly magnitude 6.9 quake hit Cebu just months earlier, and critics are watching whether Marcos's promise leads to real reconstruction, Courthouse News reported. The quake originated along the Cotabato Trench, a major fault in the Celebes Sea. Scientists had tracked a swarm of smaller quakes in the same area throughout May 2026, per PHIVOLCS.
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