Philippines quake kills 32, injures over 200 as rescue efforts continue

A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck the southern Philippines on June 8, 2026, with the epicentre near Sarangani in Mindanao. The disaster caused at least 32 deaths and more than 200 injuries, with dozens of people still missing under collapsed buildings.

Rescue teams are searching rubble in towns such as General Santos, where at least seven people died and about 130 were wounded. Schools were heavily affected; several school buildings collapsed and over 100 pupils sustained injuries, prompting authorities to suspend classes in the region. Authorities reported over 200 aftershocks, including a strong 6.7‑magnitude tremor, and issued a brief tsunami alert that generated a one‑metre wave along nearby coasts. Small waves were also recorded in parts of Indonesia and Malaysia, though no casualties were reported there.

The Philippine government, through its disaster‑management agency and the Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, continues to assess damage to infrastructure such as bridges and public buildings while search‑and‑rescue operations proceed.