Powerful Philippine earthquake kills at least 12, injures 200 and triggers tsunami warning

A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck off the southern coast of the Philippines on 8 June 2026 at 07:37 local time, with its epicentre about 32 km southwest of Maasim in Sarangani Province and a depth of 33 km. The quake caused at least 12 deaths and more than 200 injuries, mainly in the port city of General Santos where several buildings collapsed. A tsunami of up to one metre was reported along nearby coastal areas, and authorities warned that waves of up to three metres could affect other Pacific locations.

A separate report indicated a magnitude 8.2 tremor later that night in Mindanao at a depth of 10 km, prompting additional tsunami alerts, including a potential risk for New Zealand. Aftershocks of up to magnitude 6.1 were recorded by the US Geological Survey. The events are the strongest recorded in the Philippines this year and have raised concerns across neighboring countries in the Pacific region.