Magnitude 7.8 earthquake strikes off southern Philippines; tsunami warnings issued

A powerful magnitude 7.8 earthquake occurred off the southern coast of the Philippines on Monday, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported. The epicenter was located approximately 26 kilometers southwest of Kablalan, Mindanao, at a depth of 55 kilometers, according to the USGS. The German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) calculated the magnitude at 7.8 with a shallower depth of 10 kilometers.

Strong shaking was felt across the Philippines and as far as northern Manado in Indonesia. Reports from Alabel, Sarangani Province, indicated that police station buildings developed cracks and some people fainted due to the tremor. While no injuries or fatalities have been reported in the immediate aftermath, images shared on social media showed damage to buildings, including the collapse of a shopping center ceiling and school buildings.

In response to the seismic event, the U.S. Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) issued a tsunami warning for coastal areas of the Philippines, Indonesia, Palau, Taiwan, and Papua New Guinea, anticipating potential waves within three hours of the earthquake. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) also forecast tsunami waves exceeding one meter, with the potential for continued wave activity over several hours.

Additionally, the Japan Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami advisory for Japan's Pacific coast, stretching from Ibaraki Prefecture to Okinawa Prefecture. The earthquake's impact was visible in damaged infrastructure, with images showing motorcycles crushed by falling debris from buildings.

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The police station building developed cracks, and people who were startled fainted.