7.8-magnitude quake hits Mindanao, triggers tsunami warnings

MANILA — A 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Sarangani province in the southern Philippines early June 8, killing at least 15 people and injuring 129 others, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) reported.

The quake triggered tsunami warnings across nine coastal provinces, prompting immediate evacuations along affected coastlines.

Shaking was felt from SOCCSKSARGEN and the Davao Region to the Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Caraga, and as far as Eastern Visayas, with the strongest intensities recorded in Sarangani, South Cotabato, and Davao Occidental.

Strong aftershocks continued to follow the initial tremor, while commercial buildings in the hardest-hit areas were reported to have collapsed.

The full scale of the disaster remains unknown as the situation continues to develop.

Coastal communities living in fragile housing structures face the greatest risk from tsunami surges, while disruptions to water, health services, and shelter compound the vulnerability of the poorest residents, according to CARE Philippines.

CARE Philippines, together with partners under the European Union Humanitarian Aid-funded ACCESS Project and the Humanitarian Partnership Platform (HPP), said it is coordinating with local governments and disaster risk reduction authorities to assess damage and prepare emergency assistance.

“We are committed to making sure that assistance reaches those who need it most — quickly, safely, and with dignity,” CARE Philippines said in a statement.

The Philippines has been consistently ranked as the most disaster-prone country in the world, according to the World Risk Index.

In late 2025, back-to-back earthquakes in Cebu and Davao Oriental affected nearly 2.3 million people, with CARE and its partners responding to both events.

Many families displaced by those earthquakes are still transitioning out of temporary shelters, and the psychological toll of repeated disasters continues to mount.

CARE Philippines Country Director Reiza S. Dejito said women and girls bear the heaviest burden in disaster situations, and that their specific needs must anchor any relief effort.

“We know from these experiences that every time disasters occur, the hardest hit are women and girls. They face complex, compounding risks long after the ground stops shaking — in their homes, in their health, and in their ability to recover. CARE is committed to ensuring that assistance reaches the right people, at the right time, with the right resources,” Dejito said.