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🇩🇰 Denmark /Disasters & Emergencies

Powerful Earthquake Strikes Off Philippines' Mindanao Coast; Tsunami Warnings Issued

From Berlingske · () Danish

Translated from Danish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Ongoing story
  • A powerful earthquake, initially measured at 8.2 magnitude and later revised to 7.8, struck off the coast of Mindanao, the Philippines' second-largest island.
  • The German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) reported the quake.
  • Tsunami warnings have been issued for the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Taiwan, Palau, and Yap, with authorities urging residents in coastal areas to seek higher ground.

A significant earthquake with a calculated magnitude of 7.8 has struck off the coast of Mindanao, the Philippines' second-largest island, according to the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ).

Earthquake with a calculated strength of 7.8 has struck off the coast of the Philippines' second-largest island, Mindanao.

— GFZReporting the initial magnitude and location of the earthquake.

Initially reported as an 8.2 magnitude quake, the GFZ later downgraded its assessment. The United States' National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has issued a tsunami warning, indicating a risk of waves reaching up to one meter above normal levels in several regions.

Tsunami warning has been issued for the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Taiwan, Palau, and the Yap atoll in Micronesia.

— NOAAAlerting regions to the potential threat of tsunami waves.

Residents in coastal areas of the southern Philippines are being urged by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) to move to higher ground or further inland. Phivolcs also warned of potential damage and aftershocks following the main tremor.

People are urged to seek higher ground or move further inland.

— PhivolcsAdvising residents in vulnerable coastal areas to evacuate.

Japan's Meteorological Agency (JMA) has also issued a tsunami advisory for parts of its Pacific coast, forecasting waves of up to one meter. The affected areas for tsunami risks include the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Taiwan, Palau, and the Yap atoll in Micronesia.

There is a risk of tsunami waves that could reach one meter above normal levels.

— PhivolcsDetailing the potential height of the tsunami waves.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Berlingske in Danish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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