Breaking: Tsunami threat after magnitude-7.8 earthquake in southern Philippines

A powerful magnitude-7.8 earthquake has shaken the Mindanao region in the southern Philippines, triggering tsunami warnings for several coastal areas. The tremor struck at 7:37 a.m. local time on Monday, June 8, 2026, with its epicenter located approximately 24.7 kilometers west-south-west of Burias, Philippines, at a depth of 35 kilometers, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has alerted that tsunami waves of up to 3 meters are possible on some Philippine coasts. Smaller waves, up to 1 meter, could impact coasts in Indonesia and Malaysia. Taiwan, Japan, Guam, Papua New Guinea, and various island nations and territories in the western Pacific may also experience smaller tsunami waves.

Residents in Indonesia's North Sulawesi and North Maluku provinces reported feeling the earthquake's tremors. The Philippines, situated on the geologically active Pacific Ring of Fire, is highly susceptible to seismic activity, including earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. The archipelago also faces an annual barrage of about 20 typhoons and tropical storms.