Phillipines (Rajeev Sharma): A powerful earthquake struck the southern Philippines late Friday, shaking parts of Mindanao and prompting urgent tsunami alerts along several coastal provinces. The undersea quake, which registered a magnitude of 7.4, has triggered widespread concern, though no immediate damage or casualties have been confirmed.
The tremor was recorded off the coast of Manay, a town in Davao Oriental province, with the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reporting it struck at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers beneath the seabed. The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC), however, placed the quake’s depth at around 62 kilometers.
Emergency alerts were swiftly issued to residents in coastal towns across Mindanao and parts of the Visayas, urging communities to evacuate to higher ground due to the threat of potentially dangerous tsunami waves.
According to Phivolcs, elevated sea levels may reach more than one meter above the normal tide in some areas, and waves could continue to impact shores for several hours. The U.S. Tsunami Warning System confirmed the risk, stating that any coastlines within 300 kilometers of the epicenter could be in danger of hazardous wave activity.
Local disaster response teams have been mobilized and are on standby as authorities assess the situation. Although there were no immediate signs of destruction, officials caution that aftershocks are likely and could still pose risks in the hours ahead.
“This earthquake has the potential to produce serious wave surges along our coasts. We strongly advise all residents in low-lying areas to follow evacuation instructions,” a Phivolcs representative said during a late-night briefing.
Friday’s seismic activity comes just days after another significant quake, measuring 6.9, rattled Cebu province, claiming dozens of lives and severely damaging infrastructure, including historic buildings.
The Philippines, situated on the geologically active Pacific Ring of Fire, experiences frequent seismic events due to the movement of tectonic plates beneath the region.
Officials continue to monitor seismic activity and have urged the public to remain alert, avoid spreading misinformation, and rely on official bulletins for updates.
