A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck the southern Philippines early Monday, centered about 13 kilometers from General Santos, a coastal city with over 700,000 residents. The quake, which occurred at 7:37 AM local time, was caused by tectonic activity in the Cotabato Trench at a depth of 10 kilometers. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr issued a call for residents in tsunami-prone areas to evacuate to higher ground, as tsunami waves of up to one meter were reported along the coast. Initial assessments indicate damage to buildings in General Santos, including a partial collapse of a small commercial structure, but no casualties have been confirmed. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre indicated that waves up to three meters could impact some coastal areas. Aftershocks have been felt, with the US Geological Survey reporting tremors of up to 6.5 in magnitude. The Philippines, situated on the Pacific 'Ring of Fire', frequently experiences earthquakes and volcanic activity, making it one of the world's most disaster-prone nations.