7.8-magnitude earthquake jolts Philippines, Tsunami alerts issued across Asia

A powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck the southern Philippines early Monday (June 8), triggering tsunami warnings across several Asian countries and prompting authorities to urge coastal residents to move to higher ground immediately.

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the quake hit at 7:40am (local time) near Mindanao Island at a depth of 35 kilometers, making it a potentially destructive shallow earthquake.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center warned that tsunami waves of up to 10 feet could hit parts of the Philippine coastline, while waves exceeding 3 feet were possible in Indonesia and Malaysia.

Authorities in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia issued tsunami advisories, cautioning that dangerous waves could impact coastal communities and low-lying areas.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. urged residents in vulnerable coastal regions to evacuate without delay. In an emergency message, he said signs of impact had already been reported in several coastal areas of Mindanao.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanade Takachio also called on the public to follow official evacuation orders and tsunami warnings, stressing the importance of moving to higher ground whenever instructed by authorities.

Emergency agencies across the region remained on high alert as officials monitored sea-level changes and assessed the potential impact of the earthquake and resulting tsunami threats.

There were no immediate reports of casualties or major damage, but authorities warned that the situation remained fluid and could evolve in the hours following the quake.