Deadly 7.8 Magnitude Earthquake Leads Officials to Cancel Classes on First Day of School

Deadly 7.8 Magnitude Earthquake Leads Officials to Cancel Classes on First Day of School https://ift.tt/wzeV2k4

“Their excitement on the first day of school turned to trauma,” said Rosavel Cachuela, a school principal in the Philippines

Philippines police inspect a damaged school building following an earthquake, in Davao del Sur Province, southern Philippines, June 8, 2026
Credit: CERILO EBRANO/EPA/Shutterstock

NEED TO KNOW

• A major earthquake off the coast of the Philippines on June 8 killed several dozen people and injured hundreds more
• The 7.8 tremor occurred as millions of students in Mindanao were marking the first day of school
• Video footage shared on social media showed frightened students at one school when a canopy roof collapsed

A 7.8 magnitude earthquake in the southern Philippines that has left at least 35 people dead occurred on the first day of school, prompting the country's government to suspend classes in the affected regions.

The quake, which also triggered a small tsunami and a landslide, struck shortly after 7:30 a.m. local time on Monday, June 8, off the coast of Maasim on the southern island of Mindanao, according to authorities and news reports.

The tremor affected 3.2 million students across Mindanao as they were marking the beginning of the new school year, according to the United Nations.

“As classes resume, this emergency raises urgent concerns about children's safety,” UNICEF said in a statement. “Initial reports suggest minor injuries among some students, alongside damage to school buildings and other public facilities. The safety of learners and teachers must remain the top priority.”

“Reports of fatalities, including children, are being monitored. Communities are urged to remain alert for possible aftershocks and follow official guidance, especially in coastal areas where tsunami risks may persist,” the agency continued.

UNICEF also said that it is ready to provide emergency supplies and cash assistance.

Mahayahay Elementary School, located in the province of Davao Occidental, shared footage on social media showing frightened students squatting on the ground and then scurrying away when a canopy roof collapsed during the quake. The tremor interrupted the school's morning flag ceremony.

“Their excitement on the first day of school turned to trauma,” Rosavel Cachuela, a school principal, told the Associated Press.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called for the suspension of classes in the impacted regions.

"The national government is moving and we will not leave Mindanao behind," Marcos said, the BBC reported.

On social media Monday, the Philippines' Department of Education said its secretary, Sonny Angara, “instructed the immediate mobilization of safety checks and emergency support to affected schools in Mindanao” following the quake.

The department also said its officials flew to General Santos City in Mindanao to inspect the affected areas, adding that, based on an assessment, 62 classrooms were totally damaged, 93 sustained major damage, while 381 classrooms had minor damage.”

In addition to the 35 dead in Monday's tremor, over 200 people were reported injured, per the AP.

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A roughly 3-foot tsunami was also reported, with waves reaching Indonesia, Japan and Palau, per the news agency, which added that the quake triggered a landslide in Glan in the Sarangani province, claiming the lives of 13 villagers.

The U.S. Embassy in the Philippines issued a statement Monday saying that it “extends its deepest sympathies to all those affected by the earthquake in Mindanao on June 8, 2026.”

“We continue to monitor the situation closely in coordination with Philippine authorities and stand ready to support Philippine-led response efforts,” it concluded.