08/06/2026
A powerful magnitude 8.0 earthquake struck off the coast of the southern Philippines on Monday morning, triggering tsunami warnings and evacuations across parts of the Pacific region and a brief tsunami watch for areas near Australia.
The undersea quake hit near Mindanao at around 7:37am local time, at a shallow depth of approximately 10 km, according to geoscience agencies. The strong tremor was felt widely, with reports of buildings shaking violently and damage in some coastal towns.
Footage shared on social media showed construction sites swaying dramatically, with cranes moving dangerously as workers stood nearby. In another clip, a fast-food restaurant was seen severely damaged, with debris falling onto surrounding infrastructure.
Local police in Sarangani province reported cracks forming in buildings during a flag-raising ceremony, while some residents fainted due to the intensity of the quake. Authorities say there are currently no confirmed reports of major casualties, but assessments are ongoing.
The Philippines and Indonesia—both located along the Pacific “Ring of Fire”—issued tsunami warnings shortly after the quake. Japan also released advisories for its Pacific coastline, while US monitoring agencies warned that hazardous tsunami waves could affect several countries in the region within hours.
In Australia, the Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Centre issued a brief tsunami watch for parts of the Northern Territory and Christmas Island. The alert was later cancelled after no tsunami waves posing a threat were detected.
Filipino President Ferdinand Marcos Jr urged residents in coastal areas to immediately move to higher ground and follow evacuation orders.
“Do not wait. Your life is more important than anything left behind,” he said, as emergency response teams continue to monitor the situation.
Authorities across the region remain on high alert as aftershocks and potential tsunami activity are closely tracked.