Philippines Earthquake Triggers Minor Tsunami in Eastern Indonesia

A powerful magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck the southern Philippines on Monday, June 8, 2026, sending tremors across eastern Indonesia and triggering a minor tsunami. The quake's epicenter was located at sea, about 244 kilometers northwest of Karatung Island in North Sulawesi, at a depth of 47 kilometers.

Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) reported that the shallow earthquake resulted from megathrust activity along a subduction zone. This activity generated tsunami waves that reached several coastal areas in eastern Indonesia. The highest wave recorded was 0.75 meters in Talengen, North Sulawesi, at 8:20 AM WIB. Other locations, including Central Sulawesi and parts of North Sulawesi, also observed sea-level increases.

While tsunami waves were detected, BMKG confirmed that sea levels returned to normal and lifted the early warning by 10:15 AM WIB. Before the tsunami, the earthquake caused strong shaking across eastern Indonesia, with intensity VI on the Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) scale recorded in Miangas and Melonguane. This level of shaking is felt by all residents and can cause minor structural damage.

Residents in Siau and Tagulandang experienced intensity V MMI shaking, strong enough to wake most people. Manado and other areas felt tremors comparable to a heavy truck passing by. By 10:00 AM WIB, BMKG had recorded 20 aftershocks, ranging from magnitude 3.9 to 6.7, with two felt by residents. Initial assessments indicated limited damage in Indonesia, and the agency urged vigilance.