Philippines earthquake off Mindanao kills at least eight and triggers tsunami warnings

A magnitude 7.8 earthquake off the southern Philippine island of Mindanao has killed at least eight people and prompted tsunami warnings across parts of the region. The quake struck on Monday morning local time, with the strongest effects reported in communities near the epicentre. Officials said people in coastal areas were told to move to higher ground as authorities assessed the scale of the damage.

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The country's national disaster agency said the fatalities included three people in Davao Occidental province, three in General Santos City and two in South Cotabato province. Police also reported two additional deaths in Alabel, near General Santos, after a collapsing wall crushed the victims, although those deaths were not included in the initial national disaster tally. The Office of Civil Defence said aftershocks were still being felt and that reports of damage and injuries were being checked.

Disruption was reported in several areas close to the epicentre. In Sarangani province, local officials said power and telecommunications were down and school classes were suspended while damage assessments continued. In General Santos, about 15km from the epicentre, residents reported falling furniture, damaged televisions and other appliances, and people leaving their homes for safety.

Police in Alabel said the quake struck during a flag-raising ceremony and that some people fainted, while the police building developed cracks. The earthquake has renewed attention on the vulnerability of the southern Philippines to major seismic events. The country lies on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a tectonically active belt where earthquakes are frequent, and officials warned that tsunami waves above one metre could continue for several hours.