Earthquake in the Philippines

On the morning of Monday, June 8th, 2026, a powerful 7.8‑magnitude earthquake struck off the southern island of Mindanao.

The epicentre was located 8 miles (13km) south-west of General Santos City, at a depth of 6.2 miles. Around 2.4 million people live within 100km of the epicentre, including more than 700,000 in General Santos City.

Reports show that at least 32 people have been killed and more than 200 injured. Buildings, businesses and key infrastructure have been damaged across the region, and thousands of people have been forced to evacuate.

Tsunami warnings triggered evacuations across coastal areas in the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia, although these have now mostly been lifted. More than 100 aftershocks have been recorded, including some reaching magnitude 6.5.

The impact on people’s homes is still unclear. Humanitarian organizations are closely monitoring the situation as assessments begin.

Has ShelterBox responded in the Philippines before?

We have responded in the Philippines more than 30 times, supporting communities affected by tropical storms, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and conflict.

In the 2025 Cebu earthquake, we supported people with emergency shelter kits to improve their immediate living conditions. These included tarpaulins, shelter repair kits, solar lights, mosquito nets and blankets. We also provided cash assistance so people could address their specific shelter needs.

Having worked across the country for many years, we are well placed to provide tailored support that reflects the different needs of each community.

How we prepare to respond

The Philippines is regularly affected by natural hazards. It sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, where earthquakes are common, and faces frequent tropical storms during the year.

That is why we store aid in key locations like Cebu and maintain strong partnerships with local organizations.

This preparedness means we can act quickly when disaster strikes.