News & Relief · June 8, 2026 · RevPARGenius
Reviewed by Michael Andrews, Hotel Market Intelligence Researcher · June 8, 2026 · 6 min read
This morning, southern Mindanao was shaken by the most powerful earthquake the Philippines has experienced in 35 years. A magnitude 7.8 quake struck offshore Sarangani Province at 7:37 AM Philippine Standard Time — before most families had finished breakfast, before schools had opened their doors on the first day of the new school year. In the hours that followed, tsunami waves reached coastal towns, flights were grounded, buildings collapsed, and families in Sarangani, South Cotabato, and Davao Oriental were left evacuating with whatever they could carry.
We are a hospitality intelligence platform. We know that for many of the people reading this, Mindanao means flights, bookings, events, and itineraries. But today it means something else. RevPARGenius is using this platform to direct support to the people who need it most. We are not collecting donations — we are pointing everyone to Red Cross Philippines, the most trusted disaster relief organization already on the ground in Mindanao. This article reports what happened, what the travel and hospitality impact looks like, and how you can help right now.
On June 8, 2026 at 7:37 AM PHST, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck offshore Sarangani Province in southern Mindanao — the strongest in the Philippines since 1990. Tsunami waves up to 1.4 metres hit coastal towns including Maasim, Kiamba, Kalamansig, Mati, Zamboanga City, and Tandag. Two people were killed in South Cotabato. 17 flights were cancelled, General Santos International Airport was suspended, classes and government work were halted across parts of Mindanao, and 138 aftershocks were recorded by 11:00 AM. Evacuation orders remain active for coastal communities.
Earthquake at a Glance · June 8, 2026
Strongest since 1990
Largest M6.7
Maasim, Sarangani
General Santos Airport
What happened on the morning of June 8, 2026?
At 7:37:40 AM Philippine Standard Time, a magnitude 7.8 tectonic earthquake struck approximately 32 kilometres southwest of Maasim, Sarangani Province, at a depth of around 33 kilometres. PHIVOLCS initially recorded it at magnitude 7.0 before upgrading the figure to 7.8 as data came in — placing it as the strongest earthquake to hit the Philippines since 1990. The shaking was felt across a wide arc of southern Mindanao. General Santos City experienced Intensity VII (destructive) shaking. Sultan Kudarat and surrounding areas recorded Intensity VI. Davao City, Kidapawan City, Cotabato City, and parts of Zamboanga del Norte recorded Intensity V.
The earthquake immediately triggered tsunami warnings across the region. PHIVOLCS recorded waves of between 0.4 and 1.4 metres above normal tide striking coastal towns in rapid sequence: Maasim at 7:42 AM (1.4m), Kiamba at 7:44 AM (0.5m), Kalamansig in Sultan Kudarat at 7:59 AM (0.8m), Mati in Davao Oriental at 8:19 AM (0.6m), and subsequently Zamboanga City and Tandag in Surigao del Sur. Coastal communities were urged to evacuate immediately to higher ground. Local officials in Maasim evacuated seaside barangays. The Philippine Coast Guard directed all vessels to remain offshore in deep water. Ferry services and boat tours in threatened waters were suspended.
By 11:00 AM, PHIVOLCS had recorded 138 aftershocks, nine of which were felt, with the largest reaching magnitude 6.7. Two people were confirmed dead in South Cotabato — one killed by falling debris, one from cardiac arrest. Several buildings in General Santos City partially collapsed, including a fast-food restaurant. Hundreds of structures sustained damage. SM General Santos and other major commercial centres closed temporarily for safety inspections. Power and internet were knocked out in parts of Sarangani and South Cotabato, though electricity to Davao province was largely restored by 8:20 AM. President Marcos convened the disaster council and directed all agencies to move immediately on relief operations.
What does this mean for flights, bookings, and travel to Mindanao?
For travellers with plans to or from General Santos City, the impact is immediate. 17 flights were cancelled by 11:00 AM — 11 Cebu Pacific flights between General Santos and Cebu, Manila, and Iloilo; 4 PAL Express flights between Cebu and General Santos and between Manila and General Santos; and 2 Philippine Airlines flights between Manila and General Santos. General Santos International Airport issued a NOTAM suspending operations from 8:45 AM to 3:00 PM for safety assessments, with the timeline subject to extension pending structural inspection. CAAP advised all affected passengers to coordinate with airlines for rebooking or refunds. Philippine carriers have waived change fees for earthquake-related disruptions.
Hotels in evacuation zones — particularly along the Sarangani Bay coastline and in Davao Oriental — may be operating in emergency mode or temporarily inaccessible. Under Philippine law (Tourism Act RA 9593), accommodations are required to allow cancellations for declared natural disasters without penalty. Travellers should contact hotels and tour operators directly, keep booking references available, and request documentation for insurance claims. Ferry services in the southern Philippines, including Hinatuan Passage and Surigao Strait routes, have been halted pending Coast Guard clearance.
Stay away from coastal areas in Sarangani Bay and Davao Oriental until PHIVOLCS officially lifts the tsunami advisory. Do not re-enter damaged buildings before structural clearance. Monitor official advisories at earthquake.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph and ndrrmc.gov.ph. Keep phones charged, carry emergency supplies, and contact your embassy if you need assistance. The rest of the Philippines — including all major tourism areas in Luzon and Visayas — is unaffected by this event.
Who needs help right now, and what does the damage look like on the ground?
The communities hardest hit are in Sarangani Province and South Cotabato — small coastal barangays, fishing communities, and towns that sit closest to the epicentre and were the first to feel both the shaking and the waves. These are not communities with substantial disaster reserves. The families evacuating this morning from Maasim, Kiamba, and Kalamansig left with what they could carry. Structural damage has been confirmed across hundreds of buildings. Schools that should have opened for the new school year did not open today. Classes were suspended in Cotabato City and Kidapawan City. Many government offices are closed for assessment.
The DSWD and Office of Civil Defense are pre-positioning relief supplies and the DPWH is surveying roads and bridges. But government response takes time, follows channels, and does not always reach the most isolated communities first. The two people who died this morning — one from falling debris, one from cardiac arrest — are the confirmed figure as of midday. With 138 aftershocks continuing and assessments still ongoing across affected provinces, that figure is expected to grow. Thousands more are displaced, without power or clean water, in communities where the infrastructure was already thin before this morning.
Help the Families of Mindanao
RevPARGenius is not collecting donations. We are redirecting all support to Red Cross Philippines — the most trusted and fully accredited disaster relief organization already operating on the ground in Mindanao.
Clicking the button below takes you directly to the official Red Cross Philippines donation page. Your money goes straight to their relief operations in Sarangani, South Cotabato, and Davao Oriental. No intermediary. No waiting. No cut.
Donate to Red Cross Philippines →You are donating directly to Red Cross Philippines — not through RevPARGenius.
Why Red Cross Philippines — and why we are not collecting directly
We made a deliberate decision not to collect donations directly. The safest, fastest, and most accountable path for your money is through Red Cross Philippines — an accredited organization with an established disaster response infrastructure already deployed in Mindanao. Here is why we are directing you there instead of handling funds ourselves.
Our Transparency Commitment
We are not collecting your money. Clicking the Red Cross Philippines button takes you directly to their official donation page at redcross.org.ph/donate. RevPARGenius does not receive, hold, process, or have any access to your donation at any point.
Red Cross Philippines is already on the ground. Their disaster response teams are already operating in Mindanao. Your donation does not wait for logistics to be arranged — it goes into an active, deployed relief operation.
Full institutional accountability. Red Cross Philippines is a legally accredited organization subject to government oversight, regular audits, and public reporting requirements. Their relief disbursements are documented to a standard that no private platform can match.
RevPARGenius takes nothing. We receive no fee, no commission, and no portion of any donation. We have no financial relationship with Red Cross Philippines. We are simply using this platform to direct our audience toward the right channel at the right moment.
We will follow up on revpargenius.com. As Red Cross Philippines publishes relief updates for the Mindanao earthquake response, we will link to them on this page so our community can track the impact of their donations directly through the official Red Cross reports.
Every peso matters today.
Families in Sarangani and South Cotabato need food, clean water, emergency shelter, and medical supplies right now. Red Cross Philippines is already there. Donate directly through their official page — your money goes straight to the relief operation.
Donate to Red Cross Philippines →Red Cross Philippines · redcross.org.ph/donate
Timeline of events — June 8, 2026
Magnitude 7.8 earthquake strikes offshore Sarangani Province. PHIVOLCS issues tsunami alert immediately. Shaking reaches Intensity VII in General Santos City.
First tsunami wave (1.4 metres) recorded in Maasim, Sarangani. Coastal evacuation orders activated.
Wave (0.5m) recorded in Kiamba, Sarangani.
Wave (0.8m) recorded in Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat.
Wave (0.6m) recorded in Mati, Davao Oriental. Power largely restored to Davao province.
General Santos International Airport suspends operations. NOTAM issued until 3:00 PM. 17 flights cancelled across Cebu Pacific, PAL Express, and Philippine Airlines.
President Marcos convenes disaster council. DSWD and Office of Civil Defense mobilise relief supplies. Classes and government work suspended across Mindanao.
PHIVOLCS confirms 138 aftershocks (largest M6.7). Electricity and internet still down in parts of SOCCSKSARGEN. Tsunami warning remains active.
2 fatalities confirmed in South Cotabato. Damage assessments ongoing. Aftershocks continuing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Mindanao earthquake affecting the rest of the Philippines?
No. The earthquake is localised to southern Mindanao — primarily Sarangani Province, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and parts of Davao Oriental. All major tourist destinations in Luzon (Manila, Batangas, Palawan, Baguio) and the Visayas (Cebu, Boracay, Siargao, Bohol) are fully unaffected. Travellers with plans to those areas can proceed normally.
Can I get a refund on my cancelled flight to General Santos?
Yes. Philippine carriers (Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines, PAL Express) have waived change fees for quake-disrupted flights. Contact your airline directly with your booking reference. CAAP has advised all affected passengers to coordinate with airlines for rebooking or full refunds. Keep documentation of the cancellation for insurance claims.
Can I cancel my hotel booking in Mindanao without penalty?
Under the Philippine Tourism Act (RA 9593), accommodations are required to allow cancellations for declared natural disasters without penalty. Contact your hotel or tour operator directly, cite the disaster declaration, and request a full refund or credit. Keep all booking references and correspondence.
How do I know RevPARGenius donations will reach victims?
RevPARGenius is not collecting donations directly. All support is directed to Red Cross Philippines through their official portal at redcross.org.ph/donate — a fully accredited organization with active disaster relief operations on the ground in Mindanao right now.
Is General Santos Airport open?
As of the NOTAM issued this morning, General Santos International Airport was suspended from 8:45 AM to 3:00 PM for safety assessments. That timeline is subject to extension. Check with CAAP and your airline for the current status before travelling to the airport.
The families of Sarangani and South Cotabato need help today.
RevPARGenius is not a charity organization. We are a hospitality intelligence platform with a community of hoteliers and industry professionals across the Philippines and APAC. We are using that platform to point people toward the right channel. Donate directly to Red Cross Philippines — they are on the ground, they are accountable, and they are already working.
Donate to Red Cross Philippines →Red Cross Philippines · redcross.org.ph/donate · Accredited disaster relief organization
Sources: Official PHIVOLCS and NDRRMC bulletins; Philippine news reports (Inquirer, GMA News, Philippine Star); Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines; Philippine Coast Guard advisories; Philippine Tourism Act RA 9593. All factual claims sourced to official or verified media reports. Facts reported as of June 8, 2026, 12:00 PM PHST. Situation is ongoing — check PHIVOLCS and NDRRMC for the latest. RevPARGenius is an independent hotel market intelligence platform and is not affiliated with any government agency, private foundation, or charity organization.
