A 7.8 magnitude earthquake in the southern Philippines causes 4 deaths, damage and a tsunami

An offshore 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit the southern Philippines early Monday, centered 13 kilometers southwest of General Santos, a city of over 700,000 people. The quake, occurring at a depth of 10 kilometers in the Cotabato Trench, caused at least four deaths and injured more than 200 people, according to officials. Three fatalities and 130 injuries were reported in General Santos, where small buildings partially collapsed and a key access bridge sustained cracks. Another death occurred in Davao Oriental province. The earthquake triggered a 1-meter (3-foot) tsunami that washed ashore in nearby provinces, including Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani, though the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center later stated the threat had largely passed. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. warned coastal residents to move to higher ground, and Indonesian and Malaysian authorities also issued tsunami alerts for their nearby coastal areas. In General Santos, the international airport temporarily shut down, canceling 17 domestic flights. Schools reported injuries among students during morning ceremonies, with some fainting from panic. A DZRH radio station office partially collapsed, though no injuries were reported among its staff. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology confirmed the quake’s magnitude and depth, warning of potential further damage. Civil defense officials noted no trapped individuals in collapsed structures but described widespread panic as the ground violently shook. The disaster-response agencies were activated, with Marcos assuring support for affected regions. The quake was the strongest to strike the Philippines in 2024, underscoring the region’s vulnerability to seismic activity.