Powerful earthquake in the Philippines claims 15 lives
Kyiv • UNN
A magnitude 7.8 earthquake in the Philippines has killed 15 people and destroyed buildings. A large-scale tsunami warning has been issued across Asia.
A powerful earthquake has struck the Philippines, killing at least 15 people, destroying buildings, and triggering tsunami warnings across Asia, reports UNN with reference to Al Jazeera.
Details
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the 7.8-magnitude earthquake occurred off Mindanao island shortly before 7:40 a.m. local time on Monday (2:40 a.m. Kyiv time).
According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), the initial earthquake was followed by aftershocks lasting for more than an hour.
General Santos, a city of 722,000 people in southern Mindanao, suffered some of the most severe damage.
PHIVOLCS reported that the city, located in the southern Soccsksargen region, experienced "very strong" shaking on its internal intensity scale.
Video posted on official social media showed a three-story building housing a Jollibee restaurant collapsing, sending up a cloud of debris and dust that terrified onlookers.
Other images show significant damage to buildings, including shattered windows and collapsed roofs.
Police spokesperson Robert Dagoon told a local radio station that parts of the city's St. Elizabeth Hospital were seriously damaged, forcing patients and medical staff to evacuate and operate temporarily outside the main hospital building.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. stated that emergency services have been deployed.
Marcos said he ordered the closure of schools in the affected areas.
According to the state-run Philippine News Agency, 3.2 million students and 128,000 teachers and staff were affected during what was supposed to be the country's first day of school.
Authorities across Asia issued tsunami warnings, including in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Japan.
Philippine authorities said residents of nine provinces, including Sarangani, Davao Occidental, Tawi-Tawi, and Sulu, should immediately evacuate to high ground or further inland.
"Owners of boats in harbors, estuaries, or shallow coastal waters of the aforementioned provinces should secure their boats and move away from the waterfront," PHIVOLCS stated.
Marcos also urged people to follow government advisories amid the risk of tsunami waves.
The U.S.-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center previously reported that tsunami waves up to 3 meters high could hit coastal areas of the Philippines, while waves up to 1 meter were possible in parts of Indonesia and Malaysia.
By noon in the Philippines (7:00 a.m. Kyiv time), the Hawaii-based center said the tsunami risk had passed, but people living in coastal areas should remain vigilant and follow local authorities' instructions.
According to the tsunami warning center, the largest tsunami waves were observed in Indonesia's North Sulawesi province, where waves reached a maximum height of 0.83 meters on Monday morning.
Indonesia issued and later canceled tsunami warnings for the provinces of North Sulawesi and Gorontalo, as well as the Sangihe Islands.
Officials in the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam also canceled previous tsunami warnings but stated there was still a risk of strong currents and dangerous beach conditions.
A tsunami warning remained in effect for Japan's southern coast and remote islands, where residents were urged to stay away from river mouths and coastal areas until further notice.