TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - At least 19 people were killed and more than 130 injured after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck the southern Philippines on Monday, triggering tsunami warnings across coastal areas, according to Antara.
The earthquake hit the Mindanao region at 07:37 AM local time on June 8, 2026. According to NPR, the quake struck at a depth of 10 kilometers, with its epicenter located 13 kilometers southwest of General Santos City. The tremor was triggered by movement along the Cotabato Trench.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. urged residents in coastal communities to evacuate to higher ground amid the tsunami threat.
“The national government is responding, and we will not abandon Mindanao,” Marcos said.
He added that disaster response agencies had been placed on high alert and called on residents to heed evacuation orders.
“Move to higher ground now. Do not wait. Your life is more important than anything left behind,” he said.
Authorities in Indonesia and Malaysia also issued tsunami warnings, particularly for coastal areas facing Mindanao.
Teresito Bacolcol, head of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), said the earthquake caused damage in several areas.
“This is a major earthquake, and we expect damage. Based on the videos we have seen, there are buildings that have sustained damage,” Bacolcol told the Associated Press, as cited by NPR.
Bacolcol said authorities were monitoring tsunami-generating waves following the quake. Observations on land recorded waves of up to one meter in Sultan Kudarat Province, while smaller waves were detected in at least one other province.
Meanwhile, Malaysia’s Meteorological Department issued a tsunami warning for Sabah state. Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) also recorded tsunami waves reaching 83 centimeters along parts of the Sulawesi coast.
Minor sea-level fluctuations were also expected in Taiwan, Japan, Papua New Guinea, and several Pacific island nations.
The Philippines is among the world's most disaster-prone countries due to its location along the Pacific Ring of Fire. The country is regularly affected by earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and around 20 typhoons and tropical storms each year.
Following a magnitude 6.5 aftershock, neighboring countries later lifted their tsunami warnings. The Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) said roughly two hours after the main quake that the event posed no tsunami threat to Hawaii and lifted its advisory for Guam.
Read: Small Tsunami Waves Hit Japan After M7.8 Philippines Quake
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Top 3 News: Tsunami Alert in Philippines and Indonesia Today
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Here is the list of the top 3 news on Tempo English today.
Small Tsunami Waves Hit Japan After M7.8 Philippines Quake
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The Japan Meteorological Agency said during a press conference that a small tsunami wave was observed on Okinawa's main island.
Philippines Lifts Tsunami Alert After Deadly 7.8 Earthquake
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The Philippines and Indonesia issued tsunami warnings after a powerful M7.8 quake off Mindanao killed at least 15 people and injured more than 200.
Indonesia Reports No Citizens Affected by Southern Philippines Quake
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The Foreign Ministry and the Indonesian Consulate General in Davao are monitoring the situation and Indonesians in affected areas.
BMKG Reports 20 Aftershocks After M7.7 Southern Philippines Quake
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BMKG reported 20 aftershocks following a magnitude 7.7 earthquake in the southern Philippines, near the South Mindanao coast.
PM Anwar: Malaysia Ready to Aid Earthquake-Hit Philippines
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Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim expresses deep concern over the 7.8-magnitude earthquake in the Philippines.
BMKG Lifts Early Tsunami Warning Following Sulawesi Sea Quake
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BMKG lifted its early tsunami warning after an M7.7 quake in the Sulawesi Sea near southern Mindanao, following no significant rise in sea levels.
M7.8 Earthquake; Philippines, Indonesia Issue Tsunami Warning
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The Philippines and Indonesia both issued tsunami warnings after a powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck off Mindanao.
Indonesia Issues Tsunami Alert After M7.7 Sulawesi Quake
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A magnitude 7.7 earthquake in the Sulawesi Sea triggered tsunami alerts for five provinces. BNPB urges coastal residents to evacuate.
Minor Tsunami Hits North Sulawesi After M7.7 Earthquake
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Following a magnitude 7.7 earthquake in the Sangihe Islands, BNPB recorded minor tsunami waves up to 0.19 meters in North Sulawesi and Maluku.
