A 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Sarangani in the southern Philippines early Monday, triggering a tsunami alert and warnings for coastal areas. Authorities recorded about 1-meter waves in parts of Sarangani and advised residents to evacuate i
Early Monday, the ground shifted off the coast of Sarangani in the southern Philippines—and within hours, coastal communities were told to prepare for the sea to rise.
A 7.8 magnitude earthquake was recorded offshore. and a tsunami alert was triggered after tsunami waves with a height of approximately 1 meter were recorded along the coasts of Kiamba and Maasim in Sarangani. as well as Kalamansig in Sultan Kudarat. according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS). Smaller waves were also recorded in Mati City and Zamboanga City.
Officials warned the first tsunami waves were forecast to arrive between 7:37 a.m. and 9:37 a.m. local time, and that the activity could continue for hours. The tsunami warning was issued for several coastal areas across southern Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago. Residents were advised to evacuate immediately to higher grounds or move farther inland, following guidance from the U.S. embassy in the Philippines.
The human toll from the earthquake itself was already stark. Philippine authorities reported at least 15 people have died and at least 129 were injured. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said that “the national government is moving and we will not leave Mindanao behind. ” urging people in the affected provinces to “please heed the tsunami warning.” He added: “Move to higher ground now. Do not wait. Your life is more important than anything left behind.”.
PHIVOLCS said the earthquake had a depth of 10km, or 6.2 miles, and it was felt primarily in General Santos City on the island of Mindanao. Photos from after the quake showed damaged buildings in the port city, which has a population of about 720,000 people.
Even as the tsunami threat played out, aftershocks compounded the danger. At least 138 aftershocks were recorded by the DOST-PHIVOLCS Philippine Seismic Network, and authorities warned that aftershocks can continue for several days to weeks.
The picture around the tsunami threat shifted as the day progressed. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center initially warned of possible waves of up to 3 meters, or about 10 feet. It later assessed that there is no threat to Hawai and that the tsunami threat had largely passed about five hours after the earthquake.
In the broader region, several countries including the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia and Japan issued tsunami warnings, but most of the warnings have since been lifted.
The Philippines sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, where intense seismic and volcanic activity is common, and earthquakes with major impacts are a recurring risk.
This is a developing story; updates to follow.
tsunami alert 7.8 earthquake Sarangani PHIVOLCS Mindanao Sultan Kudarat Kiamba Maasim Kalamansig General Santos City aftershocks Pacific Tsunami Warning Center