A powerful magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck off the southern Philippine island of Mindanao on Monday, prompting tsunami warnings across the region. The quake, which occurred at a depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles), was felt strongly in nearby areas, including parts of Indonesia.
Tsunami Warnings and Evacuations
Tsunami warnings were issued by the Philippines, neighboring Indonesia, and the US Tsunami Warning System. Coastal residents were urged to move to higher ground as a precaution. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) warned of potential tsunami waves exceeding one meter (yard) that could persist for several hours. Indonesia's geophysics agency BKMG reported waves of 0.19 meters (8 inches) had been detected so far.
Reports of Deaths and Damage
A Philippine disaster official confirmed that authorities are verifying reports of at least five deaths in General Santos City, located about 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) from the epicenter. DZBB radio reported instances of falling furniture, damaged televisions, and other appliances as aftershocks rattled the area, prompting residents to flee their homes. In Sarangani province, near the epicenter, power and telecommunications were down, and school classes were suspended, according to local disaster chief Rene Punzalan. He added that a damage assessment was underway, with no reports yet of collapsed buildings.
Benjie Ancheta, police chief of Alabel town in Sarangani, said the police building sustained cracks after the quake, which struck during a flag-raising ceremony, causing some people to faint. "This is the strongest earthquake we've experienced," Ancheta told Reuters by phone.
Government Response
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. stated that authorities were moving quickly to coordinate disaster response. "The national government is moving and we will not leave Mindanao behind," Marcos said in a statement. Evacuations of coastal areas were underway in Maasim town, Sarangani province, according to disaster chief Arlene Hollero. She reported no casualties so far, but noted that water had receded shortly after the quake, though seas were normal. A bridge suffered cracks, and a shrine with a large cross collapsed. "It's devastating," Hollero said.
Regional Impact
The earthquake was felt strongly in Indonesia's northern city of Manado, though the disaster mitigation agency reported no damage so far. The Philippines and Indonesia, both situated along the tectonically active "Pacific Ring of Fire," experience hundreds of earthquakes annually. The German Research Centre for Geosciences initially reported a magnitude of 8.2 before revising it to 7.8. The Philippine and Indonesian geophysics agencies recorded magnitudes of 7.0 and 7.7, respectively.
