Overview
- A magnitude 7.8 offshore quake hit off Mindanao near Sarangani and General Santos at about 7:37 a.m. local time on Monday, producing strong shaking across southern provinces.
- Local and international tsunami centres issued widespread warnings that produced coastal evacuations and measured waves of roughly 1 metre, with local highs near 1.4 metres before warnings were largely lifted about five hours later.
- Officials and media report dozens of deaths and several hundred injured as search-and-rescue teams work through collapsed low-rise buildings, cracked bridges and landslides in General Santos, Sarangani and neighbouring areas.
- Strong aftershocks, some reported near magnitude 6.7, have continued to rattle the region and prompted suspension of classes, airport closures and emergency mobilization by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and disaster agencies.
- Power, telecoms and transport disruptions are slowing relief and damage surveys, and authorities warn residents not to re-enter damaged structures while assessments and rescue operations continue.