A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck the southern Philippines early Monday morning, causing damage in General Santos city and triggering tsunami warnings across the western Pacific region. The quake hit at 7:37 a.m. local time with its epicenter located 8-13 kilometers southwest of General Santos city on Mindanao island.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology recorded the earthquake at a depth of 10 kilometers. General Santos, a coastal city of more than 700,000 people, serves as a major commercial hub known for its tuna processing industry. Initial reports indicate a small commercial building partially collapsed, including a four-story office building housing a radio station branch, though no immediate casualties were reported.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued warnings for potential tsunami waves up to 3 meters (10 feet) on some Philippine coasts, with waves up to 1 meter possible along parts of Indonesia and Malaysia. Coastal residents were advised to evacuate to higher ground or move further inland. Smaller sea level changes were forecast for Taiwan, Japan, Guam, Papua New Guinea and several Pacific island territories, though no threat was issued for Hawaii.

Residents in north-central Indonesia also felt tremors from the earthquake, with tsunami waves of up to 18 centimeters recorded along some coasts of North Sulawesi and North Maluku provinces. Multiple aftershocks followed the initial quake, with some reaching magnitudes up to 6.5.

The Philippines sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, making it one of the world's most seismically active regions. The archipelago regularly experiences earthquakes and volcanic eruptions due to its location along major tectonic fault lines, in addition to being struck by approximately 20 typhoons and tropical storms annually.