Powerful Magnitude 7.8 Earthquake Shakes Philippines, Tsunami Alerts Issued; Chile Unaffected

A powerful magnitude 7.8 earthquake jolted the Mindanao region in southern Philippines on Monday, prompting tsunami alerts across the archipelago and along Japan's southeastern coast. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported the seismic event.

The earthquake occurred at 07:37 local time, with its epicenter situated approximately 24 kilometers southwest of the island of Burias. The tremor originated at a depth of about 35 kilometers, according to the USGS.

Philippine authorities issued a tsunami warning for several southern provinces, including Davao Occidental and Sulu, anticipating waves exceeding one meter that could be amplified in bays and straits. Meanwhile, the Japanese government also issued a tsunami alert, warning of waves up to one meter along its southeastern and eastern coasts. The city of Kochi in southeastern Japan urged coastal evacuations, as reported by NHK.

In Chile, the Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service of the Navy (SHOA) has stated that the earthquake will not affect the country's coastlines.