7.6 magnitude earthquake strikes off the southern Philippines and a tsunami warning is issued

2024-12-25 01:59:35 source: category:News

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — A powerful earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.6 struck Saturday night off the coast of the southern Philippine island of Mindanao and Philippine authorities issued a tsunami warning.

The quake struck at 10:37 p.m. at a depth of 32 kilometers (20 miles), according to the U.S. Geological Survey. There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said based on the magnitude and location, it expected tsunami waves to hit the southern Philippines and parts of Indonesia, Palau and Malaysia.

Teresito Bacolcol, the head of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, told The Associated Press his agency advised residents along the coast of southern Surigao del Sur and Davao Oriental provinces to evacuate immediately to higher ground or move further inland.

Related coverage A 5.5 magnitude earthquake jolts Bangladesh Bangladesh has been jolted by an earthquake that residents dozens of miles away in Dhaka say shook buildings. No damage or injuries have been immediately reported.   A magnitude 5.1 earthquake hits near Barbados but no damage is reported on the Caribbean island Officials say that a magnitude 5.1 earthquake has struck near the eastern Caribbean island of Barbados but no damage was reported. The U.S.  

Owners of boats in harbors, estuaries or shallow coastal waters off the two provinces should secure their boats and move away from the waterfront, the quake agency said in its tsunami warning. Boats already at sea should stay offshore in deep waters until further advised, it said.

Based on the quake’s magnitude, Bacolcol said a 1-meter (3.2-foot) tsunami may hit but the wave could be higher in enclosed coves, bays and straits.

The Philippines, one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries, experiences regular earthquakes and volcanic eruptions due to its location on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” an arc of seismic faults around the ocean. The archipelago is also lashed by about 20 typhoons and storms each year.

More:News

Recommend

Whoopi Goldberg calling herself 'a working person' garners criticism from 'The View' fans

Whoopi Goldberg called herself "a working person" on "The View," and not everyone is happy with the

Marines say F-35 feature to protect pilot could explain why it flew 60 miles on its own

WASHINGTON (AP) — A feature on fighter jets meant to protect pilots in an emergency could explain ho

The world hopes to enact a pandemic treaty by May 2024. Will it succeed or flail?

At the height of the pandemic, world leaders proposed a bold idea. They envisioned a pandemic treaty