A powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck the southern Philippines on Monday, claiming at least three lives, causing buildings to collapse, and prompting tsunami warnings across the region. The quake hit offshore south of General Santos, a city with a population of approximately 720,000, leading authorities to urge coastal residents to move to higher ground.
Aftershocks and Damage
According to the United States Geological Survey, a series of strong aftershocks began about two hours after the initial quake, with the largest registering a magnitude of 6.5. Videos verified by AFP showed a shopping center housing a Jollibee fast food restaurant reduced to rubble in General Santos City. Another video captured a school building, reportedly unoccupied, collapsing as bystanders shouted, "Lord, it has really collapsed! ... The building has really collapsed!"
Casualties and Rescue Efforts
Police Major Roland Catoburan reported that two people were crushed to death by a collapsing wall in Alabel, a municipality near General Santos. "We have casualties. A wall fell on them," he said, adding that officers were barred from re-entering their stations due to cracked walls. Master Sergeant Robert Dagon of General Santos City police confirmed another death and four injuries. "Many buildings were affected, but I cannot enumerate them now because we are busy with ongoing rescues," Dagon stated.
Tsunami Warnings and Evacuations
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center warned that tsunami waves could occur "within the next three hours" along the coasts of the Philippines, Indonesia, Palau, Taiwan, and Papua New Guinea. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos suspended classes in affected areas of Mindanao and called for immediate evacuations. "Move to higher ground now. Do not wait. Your life is more important than anything left behind," he urged. In Kiamba, a coastal town near the epicenter, about 50,000 residents had already evacuated. "As of now, 80 percent of the population has moved to higher ground," said Agripino Dacera, regional disaster chief. "All the villages along the coast were instructed to proceed to evacuation centres." The General Santos airport was closed until further notice.
Regional Impact
Indonesia and Malaysia issued evacuation warnings for coastal areas, with Jakarta later lifting its alert. Japan issued a tsunami advisory for parts of its Pacific coast, projecting waves up to one meter (three feet) to hit various regions starting at 11:30 am local time (0230 GMT).
Seismic Context
Earthquakes are a near-daily occurrence in the Philippines, situated on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," a zone of intense seismic activity. Eastern Mindanao experienced 7.4 and 6.7 magnitude quakes in October, killing at least eight. A magnitude 6.9 quake days earlier killed 76 people and damaged 72,000 buildings in Cebu province.
