7.8-magnitude quake strikes Philippines, triggers tsunami warnings

A powerful magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck off the southern Philippine island of Mindanao shortly before 7:40 a.m. local time on Monday, the United States Geological Survey reported. The tremor was followed by a series of aftershocks that continued for over an hour, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS).

Footage circulating on social media showed a three-story Jollibee restaurant building collapsing in General Santos City amidst a thick cloud of dust, alarming nearby residents. Additional images revealed widespread structural damage, with shattered windows and partially collapsed roofs evident in the affected areas. PHIVOLCS reported a "very strong" intensity level 7 tremor in General Santos City, located in the Soccsksargen region.

Authorities have not yet released casualty figures. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos announced that emergency response agencies, including the Office of Civil Defence and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, have been mobilized. He implored residents in affected provinces to heed the tsunami warning and move to higher ground immediately, emphasizing the importance of life over belongings.

The US-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a warning that tsunami waves of up to 3 meters (9.8 feet) could impact coastal areas of the Philippines. Waves of up to 1 meter (3.3 feet) were also possible in parts of Indonesia and Malaysia. The US National Tsunami Warning Center confirmed no tsunami threat to the U.S. coastal areas. Meanwhile, Japan, the Philippines, and Indonesia issued their own warnings, urging coastal residents to evacuate.

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To our kababayans in the affected provinces, please heed the tsunami warning. Move to higher ground immediately. Do not wait. Your life is more important than anything left behind.