Manila, Philippines – Early Sunday morning saw the Philippines breathe a collective sigh of relief as authorities lifted a tsunami alert following a powerful magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck the southern region of the country. While coastal evacuations were initiated, there are no initial reports of casualties or serious damage.
The quake, centered in the Mindanao region, prompted coastal evacuations as a precautionary measure. Fortunately, the less populated nature of the area mitigated potential damage compared to more densely populated regions of the archipelago.
Over 500 aftershocks were recorded in the aftermath, urging caution among the affected communities. The Philippines’ Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) released a statement, stating, “The tsunami threat associated with this earthquake has now largely passed the Philippines,” while also advising residents to follow local authorities’ instructions.
Phivolcs had earlier urged people near the coast of Surigao Del Sur and Davao Oriental provinces to move inland. The national disaster agency is currently assessing the impact of the earthquake, with a team on the ground gathering information.
The Philippine Coast Guard, taking precautionary measures, had put all its vessels and aircraft on alert for potential dispatch.
Julita Bicap, a front desk staffer in the seaside town of Bislig, mentioned, “We started going back to our homes early on Sunday, although we are still shaking because of aftershocks.” She reported some damage, including a small crack in the hotel’s front wall.
The largest aftershock recorded was magnitude 6.5, according to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre.
Earthquakes are a common occurrence in the Philippines, located on the “Ring of Fire,” a volatile belt of volcanoes encircling the Pacific Ocean. Scores of residents were seen in evacuation centers, with the authorities actively managing the situation.
Japan’s Hachijojima island, approximately 290 km south of Tokyo, recorded waves of 40 cm (1.3 feet), as per the Japan Meteorological Agency. The initial warning from the U.S. Tsunami Warning System had suggested waves of up to 3 meters (10 feet) above the usual high tide level.
The quake, striking at 10:37 p.m. (1437 GMT) on Saturday, had a depth of 25 km (15 miles), according to Philvolcs. Residents, shaken but resilient, are now assessing and recovering from the impact of the earthquake and subsequent aftershocks.
