A significant earthquake with a magnitude of 7.8 has struck the Mindanao region in the southern Philippines, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The quake occurred at approximately 07:37 a.m. local time, with a depth of about 35 kilometers (21.7 miles).

Tsunami Warnings and Evacuations

Following the earthquake, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology issued a tsunami warning, advising residents in coastal areas to evacuate. The US Tsunami Warning System indicated that tsunami waves could reach heights of 1 to 3 meters above the tide level in parts of the Philippines.

Indonesia has also issued a tsunami warning for its northeastern coast, as reported by Reuters.

Impact on Local Communities

In General Santos city, images from the local information office depicted damage to convenience stores and buildings. In Alabel town, Sarangani, the police chief, Benjie Ancheta, reported cracks in the police building following the quake, which occurred during a flag-raising ceremony. Although no immediate casualties were reported, some individuals fainted due to the strong tremor.

Ancheta remarked, “This is the strongest earthquake we’ve experienced,” during a phone interview with Reuters.

This story is still developing, and updates will follow as more information becomes available.

Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.