Overview
- The quake struck southern Mindanao at about 07:37 local time on Monday and was measured at magnitude 7.8 by the Philippine Institute for Volcanology and Seismology.
- Regional centers including the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued tsunami alerts for the Philippines and neighboring coasts, and many warnings were later lifted after monitoring showed mostly modest waves.
- Phivolcs recorded local sea surges up to about 1.4 metres in several coastal areas while US agencies warned some shores could have seen larger waves of up to about three metres.
- Authorities report a rising but still provisional toll, with the national civil defense director citing at least 15 dead and 129 injured as search, rescue and damage verification continue in places such as General Santos City.
- Emergency measures ordered by the national government include evacuations, suspension of classes, airport closures and deployment of aid, and continuing aftershocks are complicating rescue work and infrastructure repairs.