A magnitude-7.8 earthquake struck off the coast of Mindanao in the southern Philippines Monday morning, killing at least 19 people and injuring more than 130. The quake triggered tsunami alerts across the region, including the Philippines, Indonesia, Japan, and Australia, though many were later canceled.
Videos showed buildings collapsing, including a Jollibee fast food restaurant reduced to rubble. The hardest-hit areas include South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani provinces, and General Santos City. More than 130 aftershocks, some reaching magnitude 6.7, have been recorded.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. pledged swift disaster response, stating: "The national government is moving and we will not leave Mindanao behind." Classes have been suspended in affected areas.
Tsunami waves, ranging from a few centimeters to 1.4 meters, were detected along the coasts of Japan, Indonesia, and Palau. Power and communications were temporarily knocked out in Sarangani province but later restored. The Philippines is located on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," making earthquakes common.