An offshore 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck the southern Philippines on Monday, killing at least 19 people and injuring more than 200 others, mostly in damaged structures. The event also sent a one-meter tsunami toward nearby coasts. Several buildings collapsed in General Santos, where key infrastructure suffered damage, and tsunami effects hit at least one coastal village. Smaller waves reached Indonesia, Palau, and southern Japan. The director of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology described it as a major quake and advised caution before reentering damaged buildings due to possible aftershocks. Witnesses in General Santos and Davao reported intense shaking that forced people into the streets. General Santos, a port city of over 700,000 known for tuna exports, experienced the strongest tremor in the country this year. The quake was centered at sea off Mindanao at a depth of 33 kilometers, about 32 kilometers southwest of Maasim in Sarangani province. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. canceled classes and ordered immediate disaster response in affected areas. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center noted the main tsunami threat had passed within five hours, and local warnings were lifted by afternoon. Six coastal homes on stilts were damaged in Zamboanga del Sur. Officials reported that most deaths resulted from collapsed buildings, falling debris, a damaged mosque, and landslides in Sarangani, South Cotabato, Davao Occidental, and Balut Island. Authorities are investigating reports of trapped students in a collapsed school in General Santos, where at least 12 people remain missing. Rescue teams searched damaged buildings and a warehouse. More than 100 students suffered minor injuries or panic during flag ceremonies. The General Santos airport closed temporarily, canceling 17 domestic flights.
