Several Killed In Philippines Earthquake; Indonesia, Malaysia Issue Warnings (VIDEO)

by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent

JAKARTA/MANILA (Worthy News) – Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. urged residents in vulnerable coastal areas to move to higher ground after a powerful earthquake struck the southern Philippines, killing several people and triggering tsunami warnings in parts of Southeast Asia.

Monday’s offshore magnitude 7.8 earthquake killed at least four people, injured about 200 others, and damaged buildings and a key access bridge in the southern city of General Santos, officials said. Witnesses reported that a tsunami wave of about 1 meter (3 feet) washed ashore in some coastal areas.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said the threat had largely passed about five hours after the quake struck at 7:37 a.m. local time. However, it urged residents to remain alert and follow instructions from local authorities, warning that sea levels could continue fluctuating for several more hours.

The strongest earthquake to hit the Philippines this year was centered offshore about 13 kilometers (8 miles) southwest of General Santos, a city of more than 700,000 people and a major hub for tuna processing and other commerce on the southern island of Mindanao.

The situation was also being closely monitored in neighboring Indonesia, Victoria, a Christian aid worker supporting orphaned and vulnerable children, told Worthy News. Authorities in both Indonesia and Malaysia urged residents in at-risk coastal areas to move to higher ground, recalling previous deadly earthquakes and tsunamis that have struck the region.

BUILDINGS DAMAGED, RESIDENTS FLEE

On the island of Mindanao, people rushed to safety as buildings collapsed, including structures near what appeared to be a church, according to footage obtained by Worthy News. Witnesses could be heard shouting as dust and debris filled the air.

President Marcos said authorities were moving swiftly to coordinate disaster response efforts in the affected areas.

“The national government is moving, and we will not leave Mindanao behind,” Marcos said in a statement.

At least three people were killed, and 130 others were injured in General Santos, where several small buildings partially collapsed, and a key access bridge sustained dangerous cracks, according to Rod Sosmeña, regional director of the Office of Civil Defense.

“Our pickup truck suddenly jerked, and I thought we had a flat tire,” Sosmeña said. “People dashed out of houses into the streets.”

OFFICIALS DESCRIBE IMPACT

The Department of Health said another person died in Davao Oriental province due to the earthquake.

There were no immediate reports of people being trapped in collapsed structures in General Santos, although damage assessments continued across the region.

The international airport in General Santos was temporarily shut down following the earthquake, forcing the cancellation of 17 domestic flights, while schools and government offices assessed damage.

Ednar Dayanghirang, director of the Office of Civil Defense in a nearby southern region, said more than 100 students suffered bruises and several fainted in panic during morning flag-raising ceremonies at schools.

“I myself could hardly stand and keep my balance when the ground shook as I was leaving my house,” Dayanghirang said.

EVACUATIONS CONTINUE

Benjie Ancheta, police chief of Alabel town in Sarangani province, said cracks appeared in the local police station after the quake struck during a flag-raising ceremony.

“This is the strongest earthquake we’ve experienced,” Ancheta told Reuters news agency.

Authorities in several coastal communities continued evacuation efforts as a precaution against possible tsunami waves. Arlene Hollero, disaster chief of Maasim town in Sarangani province, said residents were moved from vulnerable shoreline areas after the sea briefly receded following the earthquake.

“It’s devastating,” Hollero told Reuters news agency.

Tsunami waves of about 1 meter (3 feet) were recorded in the provinces of Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani. Malaysia’s Meteorological Department issued a tsunami warning for Sabah state on Borneo island, while Indonesian authorities reported smaller tsunami waves off Sulawesi.

RING OF FIRE RISK

The U.S. Geological Survey reported the earthquake’s depth at 55 kilometers (34 miles), while other monitoring agencies provided varying measurements, a common occurrence in the immediate aftermath of major earthquakes.

Authorities in the Philippines, as well as Indonesia and Malaysia, said they remained on alert despite the easing tsunami threat as emergency teams continued assessing damage and assisting affected communities.

The region has suffered some of the world’s deadliest tsunami disasters. In 2004, a massive Indian Ocean tsunami triggered by a powerful undersea earthquake killed an estimated 230,000 people across more than a dozen countries, including Indonesia, making it one of the deadliest natural disasters in recorded history.

In 2018, an earthquake and tsunami on Indonesia’s Sulawesi island left more than 4,000 people dead or missing.

The Philippines and neighboring Indonesia are among the world’s most disaster-prone nations, sitting atop the seismically active Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a vast belt of tectonic faults and volcanoes stretching from South America to the Russian Far East. The region experiences hundreds of earthquakes every year, some of which trigger destructive tsunamis.

Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.

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