GENERAL SANTOS CITY — The powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Mindanao on Monday, June 8, 2026, left a trail of destruction across General Santos City and neighboring Sarangani province, damaging school buildings, collapsing structures, and sending thousands of residents into a state of fear and displacement.
A building of the Notre Dame of Dadiangas University Integrated Basic Education Department in General Santos City sustained visible damage after the quake, which hit at 7:37 a.m. Students and faculty were forced to evacuate as emergency responders rushed to assess the structural integrity of campus buildings across the city.
The earthquake triggered widespread panic in classrooms throughout General Santos City, with students fleeing schools as the ground shook violently. Emergency responders were immediately dispatched to educational institutions to ensure the safety of students and staff.
The impact extended well beyond the city limits. In Sarangani province, at least 20 people were reported dead, 12 remained missing, and 150 others were injured in the aftermath of the quake. In the municipality of Jose Abad Santos, seven people were confirmed dead and 12 were still unaccounted for as of June 16.
Residents of Maasim, Sarangani, stayed in evacuation centers as local authorities responded to the widespread earthquake impact. In Glan, a football field was converted into a temporary hospital to treat the injured, with medical teams working around the clock to provide emergency care.
Senator members of the Senate majority pledged to donate a month’s salary for the quake victims in Mindanao, as the full extent of the damage continued to be assessed across the region.
Local officials in General Santos City urged residents to remain vigilant and follow safety protocols as aftershocks continued to be felt in the days following the main quake. The city government coordinated with disaster response agencies to provide relief assistance to affected families.
For more updates on the earthquake response and recovery efforts, visit phshirt.com.