A powerful earthquake struck the southern Philippines on Monday morning, killing at least 15 people, damaging buildings and prompting tsunami warnings across parts of Asia.

According to the United States Geological Survey, the magnitude 7.8 quake occurred off the coast of the island of Mindanao shortly before 7:40 a.m. local time (2340 GMT Sunday).

The strong tremor was followed by a series of aftershocks that continued for more than an hour, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.

Among the hardest-hit areas was General Santos, a city of more than 700,000 residents in southern Mindanao. PHIVOLCS classified the shaking there as “very strong” on its intensity scale.

Authorities reported significant structural damage across the region, with rescue teams assessing affected areas and searching for possible additional victims.

Video footage shared on official government social media platforms showed a three-story building housing a branch of the popular fast-food chain Jollibee collapsing into a cloud of dust and debris, sending bystanders scrambling for safety.

Other images from the disaster zone showed shattered windows, partially collapsed buildings and extensive damage to commercial and residential structures.

The earthquake also prompted tsunami alerts in several parts of the region as authorities monitored coastal areas for possible sea-level disturbances. Emergency officials urged residents in vulnerable locations to remain alert and follow evacuation instructions where necessary.

The Philippines lies along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a seismically active region where earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur frequently due to the movement of tectonic plates.

Emergency response operations were continuing Monday as authorities worked to assess the full extent of the damage and determine whether the death toll could rise in the coming hours.