MANILA: Millions of people were forced to evacuate coastal areas in the southern Philippines on Saturday after a powerful magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck the region, triggering tsunami warnings across the Pacific.
The quake hit late Friday night off the coast of Mindanao island, prompting immediate alerts and mass evacuations across the Philippines, Japan, and Pacific island nations. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) issued a tsunami warning shortly after the quake, warning of “life-threatening waves” in several areas.
Authorities urged residents in low-lying and coastal zones to move to higher ground. Panic spread as residents abandoned homes, businesses, and seaside resorts in fear of incoming waves.
“We were sleeping when everything started shaking violently. Then we heard loudspeakers warning us to evacuate,” said Maria Santos, a resident of Surigao del Sur.
In General Santos City, video footage showed people rushing into the streets as sirens blared. Tsunami warning sirens echoed across coastal provinces, forcing families to flee overnight.
By early Saturday morning, Phivolcs lifted the tsunami warning, stating that the threat had passed. Fortunately, no major tsunami occurred, and no casualties were reported. However, authorities continue to assess structural damage to buildings and infrastructure.
Japan’s Meteorological Agency initially issued tsunami advisories for several southern islands, warning of possible waves up to 1 meter, but these advisories were lifted a few hours later.
The US Geological Survey reported that the quake struck at a depth of 32 kilometers and was followed by several aftershocks, including a magnitude 6.4 tremor.
The Philippines lies along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” making it highly prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Experts warn residents to remain alert for aftershocks in the coming days.
Disaster response teams have been deployed, and local authorities are conducting rapid damage assessments.
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