Overview
- A powerful magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck about 24 km off Sarangani province near General Santos early on Monday June 8, producing strong shaking and hundreds of aftershocks that have continued into June 9.
- Provincial authorities report at least 41 confirmed deaths, more than 450 injured and thousands displaced as collapsed schools, shopping centres and homes leave people trapped or homeless.
- Pacific tsunami centres including the PTWC and Japan’s JMA issued broad tsunami alerts that prompted mass coastal evacuations before many warnings were downgraded or lifted after wave assessments.
- Search-and-rescue and medical work has been slowed by repeated strong aftershocks, damaged roads and hospitals that forced some patients to be treated outdoors and made some areas reachable only by helicopter.
- The quake highlights the Philippines’ recurring seismic risk on the Pacific Ring of Fire and raises the prospect of further casualty revisions as crews continue to comb damaged towns and landslide sites.