08/06/2026
BUILDINGS COLLAPSE ACROSS MINDANAO AS 7.8 EARTHQUAKE DEVASTATES GENERAL SANTOS CITY
A powerful magnitude 7.8 struck off the coast of southern on Monday morning, causing widespread destruction across General Santos City and nearby provinces, collapsing buildings, damaging critical infrastructure, and triggering tsunami warnings throughout the region.
Among the most dramatic scenes of destruction was the collapse of a commercial building in General Santos City that housed a fast-food restaurant. Video footage circulating online showed the upper portion of the structure crumbling during the intense shaking, sending debris crashing onto the street below as bystanders fled in panic. Parts of other commercial complexes and business establishments also suffered major structural failures.
Emergency responders, police officers, firefighters, and rescue volunteers rushed to affected areas as reports of trapped individuals and injuries emerged. Authorities said search-and-rescue operations were underway in several damaged buildings while aftershocks continued to rattle the region.
The earthquake struck at approximately 7:37 a.m. local time near the coast of Sarangani Province, southwest of General Santos City. The tremor was felt across much of Mindanao, including Sarangani, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Davao Region, and neighboring provinces. Residents reported violent shaking that lasted for nearly a minute, causing people to rush out of homes, offices, schools, malls, and hospitals.
In addition to the collapsed Jollibee building, authorities reported damaged schools, cracked bridges, partially collapsed houses, fallen concrete walls, and damaged government facilities. Power outages and disruptions to telecommunications were reported in several municipalities near the epicenter, complicating rescue and assessment efforts.
Government disaster officials said casualty figures remained fluid as teams worked to verify reports from affected communities. Initial reports indicated fatalities and hundreds of injuries, although authorities cautioned that the full extent of the disaster may not be known for several hours.
The earthquake also generated tsunami warnings across parts of the Philippines and neighboring countries. Coastal residents in vulnerable areas were ordered to move to higher ground as authorities monitored sea-level changes. Tsunami waves were later recorded in parts of the region while emergency agencies maintained heightened alert status.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered a full-scale government response and directed national agencies to assist local governments in rescue operations, infrastructure inspections, and humanitarian relief efforts. Schools in several affected areas were suspended while engineers assessed the safety of public buildings and transportation networks.
The Philippines sits along the Pacific Ring of Fire, one of the world's most active seismic zones, making earthquakes a frequent threat. Monday's quake is among the strongest to strike Mindanao in recent years and is expected to leave a significant humanitarian and economic impact across southern Philippines.
Developing story. Authorities continue to assess damage, confirm casualties, and conduct rescue operations in affected communities throughout Mindanao.
Emergency responders, police officers, firefighters, and rescue volunteers rushed to affected areas as reports of trapped individuals and injuries emerged. Authorities said search-and-rescue operations were underway in several damaged buildings while aftershocks continued to rattle the region.
The earthquake struck at approximately 7:37 a.m. local time near the coast of Sarangani Province, southwest of General Santos City. The tremor was felt across much of Mindanao, including Sarangani, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Davao Region, and neighboring provinces. Residents reported violent shaking that lasted for nearly a minute, causing people to rush out of homes, offices, schools, malls, and hospitals.
In addition to the collapsed Jollibee building, authorities reported damaged schools, cracked bridges, partially collapsed houses, fallen concrete walls, and damaged government facilities. Power outages and disruptions to telecommunications were reported in several municipalities near the epicenter, complicating rescue and assessment efforts.
Government disaster officials said casualty figures remained fluid as teams worked to verify reports from affected communities. Initial reports indicated fatalities and hundreds of injuries, although authorities cautioned that the full extent of the disaster may not be known for several hours.
The earthquake also generated tsunami warnings across parts of the Philippines and neighboring countries. Coastal residents in vulnerable areas were ordered to move to higher ground as authorities monitored sea-level changes. Tsunami waves were later recorded in parts of the region while emergency agencies maintained heightened alert status.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered a full-scale government response and directed national agencies to assist local governments in rescue operations, infrastructure inspections, and humanitarian relief efforts. Schools in several affected areas were suspended while engineers assessed the safety of public buildings and transportation networks.
The Philippines sits along the Pacific Ring of Fire, one of the world's most active seismic zones, making earthquakes a frequent threat. Monday's quake is among the strongest to strike Mindanao in recent years and is expected to leave a significant humanitarian and economic impact across southern Philippines.
Developing story. Authorities continue to assess damage, confirm casualties, and conduct rescue operations in affected communities throughout Mindanao.
