Strong Earthquake Strikes Philippines, Tsunami Warning Issued
According to the English section of webangah News Agency, citing Al Jazeera via Mehr News Agency, a strong earthquake struck the Philippines, prompting tsunami warnings.
Philippine authorities issued a tsunami alert after a magnitude 7.6 quake hit the Mindanao region on Friday morning.
Similar warnings were issued for northern Sulawesi and Papua in Indonesia, located over 300 kilometers from the earthquakeS epicenter. Indonesia’s geophysical Agency stated these areas are at risk.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center also reported that tsunami waves could reach up to three meters above normal tide levels along some Philippine coastlines.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) cautioned about potential damage and aftershocks following the powerful quake centered underwater near mati city in Davao Oriental, Mindanao. The agency confirmed the quake occurred at a depth of 10 kilometers.
PHIVOLCS urged residents in coastal cities across central and southern Philippines to immediately evacuate to higher ground or move inland away from shores, anticipating wave heights exceeding one meter.
Tsunami warnings were also declared for northern Sulawesi and Papua regions of Indonesia, where waves up to 50 centimeters are expected to impact coastal areas.
The US Tsunami warning System highlighted the threat of hazardous waves affecting coastlines within 300 kilometers of the epicenter.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said waves between one and three meters above tidal levels are likely in parts of the Philippines. They added that some coasts in Indonesia and Palau could face waves up to one meter high.
Davao Oriental Governor Edwin Jubahib reported that panic gripped local residents who rushed into streets following the quake in southern Philippines. He told local media: “Some buildings have been damaged. The earthquake was very strong.”
No official reports on casualties have been released yet regarding this event.
