Southern Philippines shaken by a 7.8 magnitude earthquake, raising concerns of a potential tsunami
A powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Mindanao has led to warnings being issued across the Philippines and Indonesia, with aftershocks continuing to be felt in the region.
A 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck off the southern Philippine island of Mindanao on Monday, prompting tsunami warnings across the Philippines, Indonesia, and parts of the Pacific, as authorities hurried to evaluate damage and potential casualties.
The quake occurred off the coast of Mindanao, leading residents in coastal areas to evacuate to higher ground following alerts from Philippine authorities, as well as warnings from neighboring Indonesia and the US Tsunami Warning System.
There were no immediate reports of fatalities or significant damage; however, local officials indicated that evaluations were still in progress as aftershocks persisted in impacting the affected regions.
DZBB radio in General Santos City, situated approximately 15 kilometers from the epicenter, reported instances of falling furniture, damaged televisions, and other household appliances as residents evacuated their homes for safety.
The disaster management office in General Santos reported that authorities were evaluating reports of property damage and injuries while monitoring ongoing aftershocks.
In Sarangani province, close to the epicenter, there were disruptions to power and telecommunications services, and local disaster chief Rene Punzalan reported that school classes were suspended. He stated that officials were conducting inspections, but no reports of collapsed buildings had come in.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced that the government is mobilizing resources to assist affected communities.
“The national government is taking action, and we will ensure that Mindanao is not left behind,” Marcos stated.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has issued a warning that tsunami waves surpassing one meter may impact certain coastal regions and persist for several hours. BKMG, Indonesia’s geophysics agency, reported the detection of tsunami waves measuring 0.19 meters.
Benjie Ancheta, the police chief of Alabel town in Sarangani, reported that cracks emerged in the local police station following the earthquake that occurred during a flag-raising ceremony.
The Philippines and Indonesia are situated on the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire, an area characterized by frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity resulting from the movement of tectonic plates.
