Powerful Earthquake Rocks Southern Philippines, Five Dead as Tsunami Waves Strike Coast

Manila: At least five people have lost their lives after a powerful 7.8-magnitude offshore earthquake struck the southern Philippines, triggering tsunami waves and causing widespread disruption across affected areas.

According to local disaster management officials, authorities are still assessing the full extent of the damage and verifying casualty figures as rescue and response operations continue.

The earthquake struck at 7:37 a.m. local time at a depth of 33 kilometres, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. The epicentre was located about 32 kilometres southwest of Maasim town in Sarangani Province on Mindanao Island, near the city of General Santos.

Officials reported that tsunami waves generated by the quake reached heights of up to 1.4 metres. Several buildings reportedly sustained damage or collapsed, while power outages were also reported in parts of the affected region. Strong tremors were felt across neighbouring provinces.

Following the quake, authorities issued tsunami warnings for nine coastal provinces and urged residents to immediately move to higher ground or evacuate further inland as a precautionary measure. Experts warned that tsunami activity could continue for several hours after the initial earthquake.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. directed emergency agencies to intensify monitoring and response efforts in affected areas and appealed to residents in vulnerable coastal communities to follow evacuation advisories.

The earthquake occurred off the coast of the southern island of Mindanao, one of the most seismically active regions in the country. The Philippines frequently experiences earthquakes and volcanic activity because it lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a major zone of tectonic activity known for frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

Emergency teams remain on alert as authorities continue to assess infrastructure damage and monitor the possibility of further aftershocks and tsunami impacts.
 

With inputs from IANS