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An offshore magnitude 7.8 earthquake hit the southern Philippines on Monday, killing at least 32 people, injuring more than 200 others mostly in ruined buildings and sending a 1-meter (3-foot) tsunami into nearby coasts.
Several mostly low-rise buildings collapsed or sustained heavy damages in the hard-hit city of General Santos. Tsunami damage was reported in at least one southern coastal village. Smaller waves were measured in Indonesia and Palau and as far away as southern Japan .
The quake also triggered a landslide in Glan, a municipality in the province of Sarangani, that killed 13 villagers, Rene Punzalan, a provincial disaster-mitigation official, told the DZBB radio network. Four other villagers died in Sarangani, he said.
The major earthquake was the strongest to hit the Philippines this year, Teresito Bacolcol, the director of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, said. He warned people to seek advice before returning to damaged buildings and houses, which could collapse due to aftershocks.
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A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck off the southern Philippines on Monday, killing at least 32 people and injuring more than 200 others. (AP Images)
The United States, a treaty ally of the Philippines, said it was coordinating with Manila and was ready to support Philippine response efforts. France and New Zealand also expressed support.
"Our pickup truck suddenly jerked and I thought we had a flat tire," Rod Sosmeña, a regional director of the Office of Civil Defense, told The Associated Press from General Santos, where he was traveling when the quake struck at 7:37 a.m.
"The shaking was very strong and people dashed out of houses into the streets," Sosmeña said.
Epicenter in sea off Mindanao
More than 100 students in uniforms and a dozen teachers had gathered for a flag-raising ceremony in a coconut tree-ringed grade school compound in the rural town of Malita in Davao Occidental province when the ground shook, turning the first day of school after a two-month summer break into chaos.
"Their excitement on the first day of school turned to trauma," school principal Rosavel Cachuela told the AP.
Some of the young students screamed in panic and wept but mostly remained seated and still, preventing any injuries, Cachuela said, adding that a motorcycle was damaged when a shed crumbled to the ground.
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At least 12 people remained missing in General Santos, a port city of more than 700,000 people and a regional hub for the tuna export industry. Search and rescue teams scrambled to find people who may have been trapped in a supermarket, a warehouse, a grade school, and other small buildings that either collapsed or were severely damaged, officials said.
Building sustained considerable damage after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck General Santos in the southern Philippines on Monday. (AP Images)
The international airport in General Santos was temporarily shut due to the earthquake and 17 domestic flights were canceled, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines said.
The quake was centered at sea off Mindanao, the second most populous island in the Philippine archipelago. According to Bacolcol, the quake occurred at a depth of 33 kilometers (20 miles), about 32 kilometers (20 miles) southwest of Maasim town in Sarangani province.
Assessing damage and casualties
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the cancellation of classes and directed disaster-response agencies to immediately get to work in quake-hit provinces, saying "the national government is moving and we will not leave Mindanao behind."
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said the threat of a tsunami largely passed about five hours after the quake. Philippine officials also lifted a tsunami warning by mid-afternoon. Six shanties on stilts were damaged in a coastal village in Zamboanga del Sur province due to the quake and taller waves, officials said.
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Aside from the landslide in Sarangani, most of the other deaths were caused by collapsing buildings and falling debris, including in a damaged mosque, in the southern provinces of South Cotabato and Davao Occidental, and on Balut Island, according to Sosmeña and another disaster-mitigation official, Ednar Dayanghirang.
Search and rescue teams looked for missing people in General Santos, Philippines, after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck on June 8, 2025. (AP Images)
The DZRH radio network in Manila reported that a four-story commercial building where its provincial station was located partly collapsed and staffers dashed to the ground floor without injuries.
Tsunami waves near 3 feet measured
Waves of 1 meter (3 feet) were monitored in the provinces of Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani. A 1.4-meter (4…
Read the full article at Fox News (US) →📄Source document: Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology→8 reports
NewsweekIndependentCenter7 days agoA series of moderate earthquakes occurred in the southern Philippines following a deadly magnitude 7.8 earthquake that recently struck the region. At least five quakes with magnitudes between 4.6 and 5.2 were recorded near Mindanao, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). These quakes occurred at depths ranging from 21 to 44 miles. The recent earthquake killed at least 37 people and displaced around 20,000 others, causing damage to infrastructure and triggering tsunami warnings. Seismologists note the area's tectonic activity and history of large earthquakes.
Bias read (Center): The article provides factual information about seismic events without taking a stance or using biased language. It reports on scientific data from the USGS and describes the impact of the earthquakes objectively.
HuffPostParty-alignedCenter11 days agoRescuers in the southern Philippines searched through damaged buildings following a powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake that killed at least 37 people and displaced over 32,000. The quake occurred off the coast of Mindanao and caused injuries, landslides, and building collapses. While some feared tsunamis, the only significant damage related to waves was limited to six coastal shanties. Many displaced residents sought shelter in emergency facilities.
Bias read (Center): The article provides factual information without overtly favoring any political perspective. It focuses on the natural disaster's impact, casualty numbers, and relief efforts, using neutral language and citing official reports.
Official sources cited
- government Office of Civil Defense
- press release Associated Press (AP)
The New York Times (World)Independent🔒Center12 days agoFamilies in the Philippines are hoping to recover their loved ones following the strongest earthquake in 50 years.
Bias read (Center): The article reports on an earthquake event without taking a stance or showing clear bias in language, sourcing, or emphasis. It focuses on the impact and human concern rather than political implications.
Associated PressIndependentCenter12 days agoAn earthquake struck the Philippines, resulting in at least 37 deaths and displacing 32,000 people.
Bias read (Center): The article reports on an earthquake with casualty and displacement figures without apparent framing or slant. The subject matter is not politically charged, and the report appears to present factual information without opinion or emphasis on any particular side.
Associated PressIndependentCenter13 days ago A 7.8 magnitude quake in the Philippines kills at least 35, collapses buildings and sparks tsunamiA 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck the Philippines, resulting in at least 35 deaths, collapsed buildings, and triggering a tsunami.
Bias read (Center): The article reports on a natural disaster with no apparent political framing, emphasis, or sourcing that suggests a particular ideological slant. The focus is on the event itself and its immediate consequences.
Fox News (US)IndependentCenter13 days agoA magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck off the coast of southern Philippines, killing at least 32 people and injuring over 200. The quake caused building collapses and triggered a 1-meter tsunami along nearby coasts. Landslides in Sarangani province added to the casualties. Officials warned of potential dangers from aftershocks. The article also mentions a separate incident involving suspected American communist insurgents being killed in a clash in the Philippines.
Bias read (Center): The article reports on a natural disaster with factual details about the event, including casualty numbers, locations affected, and official warnings. There is no evident ideological framing, loaded language, or selective sourcing that would indicate a political lean. The mention of 'suspected' U.S.
Official sources cited
- government Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology
- press release DZBB radio network
UN NewsState / PublicCenter13 days agoA 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Sarangani province in the Philippines on the first day of the school year, killing at least 19 people and injuring over 134 others. The quake triggered tsunami alerts and caused significant damage to infrastructure, including schools and hospitals. Over 100 aftershocks were recorded, and authorities are still assessing the full extent of the casualties and damage.
Bias read (Center): The article provides factual information about an earthquake and its impact without taking a stance or using biased language. It focuses on the event itself, casualty numbers, and the response efforts, presenting data from official sources such as OCHA.
Official sources cited
- government UN relief coordination office, OCHA
HuffPostParty-alignedCenter13 days ago 7.8 Magnitude Quake In The Philippines Kills At Least 32, Collapses Buildings And Sparks TsunamiA magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck off the coast of the southern Philippines, resulting in at least 32 deaths, over 200 injuries, and significant structural damage. A 1-meter tsunami affected nearby coasts, and landslides caused additional fatalities. The event was the strongest earthquake recorded in the Philippines this year. International allies such as the United States, France, and New Zealand have offered support for relief efforts.
Bias read (Center): The article reports on a natural disaster with no overt political framing. It provides factual details about the earthquake's impact, casualties, and international responses without taking a stance or using biased language.
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