LIVE UPDATES: Magnitude 7.8 Mindanao earthquake effects (June 9, 2026)

The Cebu Provincial Board has approved a resolution granting a P10 million calamity assistance to General Santos City, an area most devastated by the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck off Sarangani Province.

The Board passed the resolution upon the request of Governor Pamela Baricuatro afternoon on June 8, 2026, hours after the quake hit at past 7 a.m. that day.

Baricuatro also directed the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) to coordinate with other disaster teams in Cebu to consolidate help for areas affected by the quake.

In Mandaue City, the City Council also discussed on June 8 what help the city can send to Mindanao.

Mandaue Mayor Jonkie Ouano said the city will also provide financial assistance to General Santos City.

Ouano said he thought, initially, of sending an emergency team to Mindanao but decided that financial aid is more practical as the recipient LGU can use the money the best way it sees fit.

Images that have come out of General Santos City showed buildings and other structures destroyed or damaged by the quake.

General Santos felt Intensity VII.

The following areas felt the corresponding intensities when the quake hit:

•     Intensity VII – City of General Santos
•     Intensity VI - Palimbang, and Senator Ninoy Aquino, Sultan Kudarat
•     Intensity V – City of Davao; City of Kidapawan, and Carmen, Cotabato; Bagumbayan, Kalamansig, and President Quirino, Sultan Kudarat; Sibuco, and Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte
•     Intensity IV - City of Mati, Davao Oriental; Buug, Zamboanga Sibugay; Caraga, Manay, and Tarragona, Davao Oriental
•     Intensity III – City of Butuan; Mainit, Surigao del Norte; City of Dapitan, Zamboanga del Norte; Kumalarang, Vincenzo Sagun, Zamboanga del Sur
•     Intensity II - City of Dipolog, Labason, Liloy, President Manuel A. Roxas, and Salug, Zamboanga del Norte; Alicia, Ipil, Mabuhay, Olutanga, and Siay, Zamboanga Sibugay; Molave, Zamboanga del Sur; Abuyog, and Dulag, Leyte; San Francisco, Southern Leyte

Instrumental intensities:

•     Intensity VIII - Malapatan, Sarangani
•     Intensity VII - City of Koronadal, South Cotabato; Santa Maria, Davao Occidental
•     Intensity VI – City of General Santos; T'boli, South Cotabato
•     Intensity V - Maasim, Sarangani; Santo Niño, and Surallah, South Cotabato; Isulan, Lebak, and President Quirino, Sultan Kudarat; City of Davao; City of Digos, and Magsaysay, Davao del Sur
•     Intensity IV - Kiamba, Malungon, Sarangani; Banga, and Tupi, South Cotabato; Magpet, and M'lang, Cotabato; Bagumbayan, and Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat; Nabunturan, Davao de Oro; City of Zamboanga
•     Intensity III - Tantangan, South Cotabato; Columbio, Esperanza, Sultan Kudarat; Alamada, Banisilan, Carmen, President Roxas, Cotabato; Kalilangan, Bukidnon; City of Gingoog, Misamis Oriental
•     Intensity II - Kumalarang, Zamboanga del Sur; Tubod, Lanao del Norte; City of Malaybalay, and Libona, Bukidnon; Molave, Zamboanga del Sur; City of Cagayan de Oro; Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte; Balingasag, Misamis Oriental
•     Intensity I - Malitbog, Bukidnon; Magsaysay, Misamis Oriental

On September 30, 2025, a magnitude 6.9 earthquake hit Bogo City in northern Cebu, killing 76 people and destroying or damaging buildings in Cebu Province. The province received aid from different local government units, including those in Mindanao. —GMA Regional TV

Classes for Tuesday, June 9, 2026, have been suspended in some areas due to the effects of the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck Mindanao on Monday, June 8.

Below are the class suspensions for Tuesday, June 9, 2026:

•     South Cotabato: all levels, public and private
•     Alabel, Sarangani: all levels, all classes suspended for 72 hours starting June 8
•     Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte: all levels, public and private, including work in government offices except for those in emergency response, disaster risk reduction and management, and health services

Refresh this page for updates. —KG, GMA Integrated News

General Santos City was placed under a state of calamity on Monday afternoon following the effects of the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that hit Maasim, Sarangani, according to the report of GMA Regional TV's Efren Mamac on "Saksi."

The declaration was issued after several infrastructures were damaged including a two-story supermarket in Barangay Calumpang in General Santos City that collapsed.

Meanwhile, it was also reported that the ceiling of the Holy Cross Parish church also collapsed. Other structures, including City Council building were also damaged during the quake.

According to video uploader Shinwa Loganio Malbacias, power was restored in the area on Monday evening.

Two bodies were recovered from a facility by personnel from the Philippine Red Cross. — BAP/KG, GMA News

Power was almost fully restored in areas affected by the strong earthquake that hit Sarangani and neighboring areas, Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said.

This is because two power plants have been fixed, transmission lines were restored, and power utility companies went back online.

In a statement, Garin said that at least four power plants, two transmission lines, four private distribution utilities, and 8 electric cooperatives encountered problems following the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that hit Maasim, Sarangani and nearby areas early Monday morning.

"As ordered by the President, the energy family activated our response teams in order to deploy as many men and women from all over the country to help restore the areas," said Garin.

"As of last update, 2 power plants have been fixed, transmission is partially restored, 4 private distribution utilities and 7 electric cooperatives are back online," she added.

Garin said SOCOTECO 2, South Cotabato II Electric Cooperative Inc. remains under total power interruption, or blackout.

"We are working hard and fast to bring back electricity and we ask for patience and understanding. First, we assess and then we restore when it is safe," she assured.

In a press release, the Department of Energy (DOE) with the National Electrification Administration (NEA), and National Power Corporation (Napocor) mobilized rapid response teams to assess energy infrastructure and power restoration in areas affected by the earthquake.

"Based on initial reports, power interruptions are being experienced in several areas, particularly within the franchise areas of South Cotabato II Electric Cooperative Inc. (SOCOTECO 2), South Cotabato I Electric Cooperative Inc. (SOCOTECO I), Sultan Kudarat Electric Cooperative (SUKELCO), Northern Davao Electric Cooperative (NORDECO), Davao Light and Power Company (DLPC), Cotabato Light and Power Company (CLPC), and neighboring localities, affecting around 864,000 households," the DOE said. — BAP, GMA News

Some flights have been canceled on Tuesday and Wednesday, June 9 and 10, 2026, due to the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that hit parts of Mindanao early Monday morning.

June 9, 2026

Cebu Pacific

    5J 251/252: Cebu – General Santos – Cebu
    5J 991/992: Manila – General Santos – Manila
    5J 993/994: Manila – General Santos – Manila
    5J 995/996: Manila – General Santos – Manila
    5J 997/998: Manila – General Santos – Manila

June 10, 2026

Cebu Pacific

    5J 251/252: Cebu – General Santos – Cebu
    5J 991/992: Manila – General Santos – Manila
    5J 993/994: Manila – General Santos – Manila
    5J 995/996: Manila – General Santos – Manila
    5J 997/998: Manila – General Santos – Manila
    5J 4843/4844: Iloilo – General Santos – Iloilo

June 9 to 11

Philippine Airlines (PAL) meanwhile advised that all flights to and from General Santos City (GES) scheduled from June 9-11, 2026, have been canceled following the strong earthquake that affected parts of Mindanao:

    PR 453/454 Manila-General Santos-Manila
    PR 2455/2456 Manila-General Santos-Manila
    PR 2339/2340 Cebu-General Santos-Cebu
    PR 2357/2358 Cebu-General Santos-Cebu

Meanwhile, Transportation Secretary Giovanni "Banoy" Lopez has ordered the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) to lift the suspension of airport operations to allow military aircraft, government and humanitarian flights at the General Santos Airport tomorrow, June 8.

"This is to ensure unimpeded relief transport and rapid humanitarian response operations after the 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Sarangani Province," CAAP posted. — BAP, GMA News

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Monday ordered the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) to lift the suspension of airport operations at the General Santos Airport to allow military aircraft, government and humanitarian flights following the powerful magnitude 7.8 earthquake that hit off the coast of Sarangani.

Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez issued the directive at 2 p.m. of Monday, June 8 in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s order for government agencies to swiftly respond to the calamity.

In a statement, Lopez said the General Santos Airport must be kept open for disaster response and relief efforts, for employees who will assist in the relief operations, and others who may want to bring relief goods.

“Ang utos ng Pangulo dapat mabilis at tuluy-tuloy tayong makatugon sa pangangailangan ng mga kababayan nating apektado ng lindol. Kailangan maagap tayo sa pag-responde para agarang makatulong sa mga kababayan natin,” he said.

(The President’s order is for the swift and continuous response to the needs of our countrymen affected by the earthquake. We must be prompt in responding to help our countrymen.)

Lopez also told the CAAP to ensure the integrity of the airport’s structures to guarantee the safety of the passengers and airport personnel.

He said all airport and CAAP personnel must be accounted for, adding that the DOTr will extend assistance to airport employees affected by the earthquake.

“Bukod sa dapat matiyak natin na hindi nagtamo ng matinding damage ang airport, ang primordial concern natin din dito ay safety ng ating mga pasahero at mga tauhan. Dapat matiyak din natin na OK ang ating mga kasamahan sa trabaho at ang kanilang pamilya kasi marami talaga ang apektado,” Lopez said.

(Aside from ensuring that the airport did not sustain severe damage, our primordial concern is the safety of our passengers and personnel. We should also see to it that our colleagues at work and their families are okay, because many are affected.)

In a separate Facebook post, the CAAP said the General Santos Airport is now open for limited operations following the earthquake.

It said landing and takeoff operations are “currently limited to government, military, and humanitarian flights.”

“A Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) is in effect from June 8 at 3:00 PM until June 11 at 6:00 PM. Passengers are advised to coordinate with their respective airlines regarding the status of their flights,” the agency added.

Earlier in the day, the CAAP temporarily suspended operations at the General Santos Airport to make way for an assessment of the air navigation facilities, equipment, and operational capabilities to ensure the safety and integrity of the airport’s structures.

At 7:37 a.m. Monday, a powerful magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck off the coast of Sarangani, damaging infrastructure and disrupting utility services.

It also prompted the issuance of a tsunami warning for nearby areas, as well as the suspension of classes and work in government offices across several areas.

Data from the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) showed that the death toll in the Mindanao earthquake has reached 35 as of Monday evening. — JMA, GMA News