In this photo provided by the Philippine Red Cross, rescuers inspect the damage after an earthquake in General Santos, Philippines, Monday, June 8, 2026. Photo: VCG

After a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Sarangani province in the southern Philippines, with at least 32 people reported dead, the Chinese embassy and consulates in the Philippines have reminded Chinese nationals in the country to closely monitor local warnings and disaster information, and to guard against aftershocks and secondary disasters triggered by the earthquake. Moreover, Chinese citizens in affected areas are urged to move away from the coastline immediately and seek shelter on higher ground or inland. 

Junie Castillo, spokesperson for the Philippines' Office of Civil Defense, said 10 victims were reported in South Cotabato's General Santos, a port city with a population of over 700,000, and at least 12 people remain missing so far. The deaths were caused by falling debris, building collapse and landslides. The Philippine National Police earlier said that no fewer than 134 people were injured, according to Xinhua.

The Philippines' National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said it is validating reports that three people also died in Davao Occidental province. The Philippine National Police said in a separate report that it tallied 134 injuries.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said the tectonic earthquake occurred at 7:37 am local time at a depth of 33 km, with the epicenter 32 km southwest of the coast of Maasim town in Sarangani province on Mindanao Island.

After the earthquake, the Chinese embassy and consulates in the Philippines have reminded Chinese nationals in the country to closely monitor local warnings and disaster information, and to guard against aftershocks and secondary disasters triggered by the earthquake. They are advised to remain calm, take necessary safety precautions and keep communication devices operational. Chinese citizens in affected areas are urged to move away from the coastline immediately and seek shelter on higher ground or inland, the embassy said on its WeChat account on Monday. 

A staff at the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines told the Global Times on Monday morning that the embassy had not received any reports of Chinese nationals being injured or killed in the earthquake, adding that relevant information would be released through its official channels.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said classes at all levels in earthquake-affected areas in Mindanao have been suspended. He also directed government agencies to "act immediately" in disaster response and relief operations, according to Phil Star.

Master Sgt. Robert Dagon of the General Santos City police told AFP that "a number of buildings collapsed," including homes, as authorities carried out rescue operations.

Video shared by the local government in General Santos, a city of about 700,000 people, showed the collapse of a building housing a fast food restaurant, with panicked onlookers fleeing as a cloud of dust spread quickly through the air, according to Reuters.
One General Santos hospital was evacuated due to concerns about cracks on higher floors, while one of the buildings at the city's Notre Dame of Dadiangas ‌University collapsed, but ⁠no one was inside.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines temporarily suspended operations at General Santos City Airport following the quake and the tsunami warning issued by Phivolcs, according to Phil Star.

A Chinese national surnamed Xu, who currently stays in north central coast of Mindanao, told the Global Times that "an earthquake alert suddenly popped up on my phone at around 7:45 am. I got the warning before I could even feel the quake… The shake was fairly strong for about a minute, and I immediately evacuated downstairs. I'm safe now."

According to the China Earthquake Networks Center, based on preliminary earthquake parameters, the earthquake could generate a regional tsunami within several hundred kilometers of the epicenter, but is not expected to have a destructive impact on China's coast.

The Center's Tsunami Warning Center said it will continue to monitor and analyze earthquake and tsunami data and will release updates in a timely manner.

The Chinese Consulate General in Fukuoka, Japan on Monday reminded Chinese nationals in Japan's remote islands and coastal areas to closely monitor tsunami alerts and disaster prevention updates.

The Consulate General reminded Chinese nationals to immediately stay away from seashores, ports and river estuaries, move to higher ground, complete disaster preparedness and emergency evacuation arrangements, so as to prioritize personal safety.

Separately, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a warning of waves of up to 3 meters in the Philippines and up to one meter in Malaysia, according to the Japan Times.

Indonesia also issued an immediate evacuation order for parts of northern Sulawesi, northern Gorontalo province and the Sangihe Islands, with residents urged to move to higher ground, according to Al Jazeera.