CAAP halts General Santos Airport after 7.8 earthquake in Philippines

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) temporarily suspended operations at General Santos Airport (GES) on June 8, 2026, following a 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck off the coast of Mindanao earlier that morning.

CAAP issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) effective from 08:45 to 15:00 local time as the agency assessed air navigation facilities, equipment, and operations to ensure the airport was safe to resume flights. Passengers were advised to coordinate directly with their airlines for updates.

Video footage of damage inside General Santos Airport has been circulating on social media, along with clips showing passengers and airport staff evacuating the terminal.

Philippine carriers cancel all General Santos flights

Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific both cancelled all flights to and from General Santos for the day.

PAL cancelled three round-trip services connecting General Santos with Manila and Cebu, citing the need for safety assessments and coordination with airport authorities. Affected passengers were offered free rebooking within 60 days, travel credits, or a full refund without penalties.

Cebu Pacific cancelled six services on routes linking General Santos with Manila, Cebu, and Iloilo. The airline offered affected passengers free rebooking or rerouting, the option to store the ticket value in a travel fund, or a full refund. Cebu Pacific noted the situation was still developing and advised passengers to monitor flight status through its website.

A 7.8 magnitude earthquake

The earthquake struck off the island of Mindanao shortly before 07:40 local time on June 8, 2026, according to the United States Geological Survey. It was followed by more than an hour of aftershocks, as reported by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS).

General Santos, a city of 722,000 people in the southern Mindanao region of Soccsksargen, sustained some of the most serious damage. PHIVOLCS classified the event as “very strong” on its internal intensity scale. At least 15 people were killed, buildings were destroyed, and tsunami alerts were issued across parts of Asia before the threat receded.

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