A powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck off the southern Philippine island of Mindanao on Monday morning, causing at least 12 deaths and over 200 injuries.
The quake, which hit near General Santos at 7.37am local time, triggered tsunami warnings across the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia, with waves of up to one metre recorded in some areas.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr urged residents in vulnerable coastal areas to evacuate to higher ground immediately, emphasising the importance of safety over belongings.
The earthquake caused significant damage to buildings and infrastructure, including the closure of General Santos International Airport due to structural concerns, and disrupted power and telecommunications.
Aftershocks, some as strong as magnitude 6.5, continued to be felt across the region as emergency officials assessed damage and coordinated disaster response efforts.
