Powerful Earthquake Strikes Off the Coast of Southern Philippines
A magnitude 7.5 earthquake occurred on Friday morning off the coast of southern Philippines, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), prompting the issuance of several tsunami alerts in the region.
Earthquake Details
- The Phivolcs warned of potential damage and aftershocks, stating that the earthquake occurred off the coast of the town of Manay, in the province of Davao Oriental, on the island of Mindanao.
- The agency advised residents of coastal towns in central and southern Philippines to immediately seek higher ground or move further inland.
- The magnitude of the earthquake was revised downward from 7.6 to 7.5, with a depth of 20 km.
Tsunami Alerts
- The United States tsunami monitoring system also issued an alert, warning that dangerous waves could affect coastlines within a 300 km radius of the epicenter.
- The Phivolcs predicted waves of over 1 meter above normal tide levels in the coming hours.
Government Response
- Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr stated that authorities were assessing the situation on the ground and that search and rescue teams would be deployed as soon as safety conditions permitted.
- "We are working tirelessly to ensure that aid reaches all those who need it," President Marcos Jr said in a statement.
International Alerts
- Indonesia also issued a tsunami alert for the northern regions of Sulawesi and Papua, while the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) stated that certain coastal areas in Indonesia and the Palau archipelago could experience waves of up to 1 meter.
Local Impact
- The governor of Davao Oriental, Edwin Jubahib, told Philippine radio station DZMM that the earthquake had caused panic among the population.
- "We have reported that some buildings were damaged," Governor Jubahib said. "It was very strong."
- The earthquake occurred at a depth of 58 km, according to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (CSEM), which estimated the magnitude at 7.4.
