A devastating 7.8-magnitude offshore earthquake has rocked the southern Philippines, leading to multiple deaths, hundreds of injuries, widespread damage.
Key Points
- A 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck the southern Philippines, resulting in at least 32 fatalities and over 200 injuries.
- The quake caused significant structural damage to buildings and a key bridge in General Santos city.
- Tsunami warnings were issued across parts of Southeast Asia, with waves up to one metre high reported in some coastal areas.
- Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. urged coastal residents to evacuate to higher ground.
- The earthquake was caused by movement along the Cotabato Trench, a seismically active region.
At least four people were killed and more than 200 injured after a powerful 7.8-magnitude offshore earthquake struck the southern Philippines on Monday, damaging buildings, cracking a key access bridge and triggering tsunami warnings across parts of Southeast Asia.
Quake Details and Impact
The quake, the strongest to hit the Philippines this year, struck at 7.37 am local time and was centred about 13 km southwest of General Santos city in the southern Mindanao region, authorities said.
32 deaths and around 130 injuries were reported in General Santos, where several buildings suffered structural damage and a major bridge developed dangerous cracks, according to disaster management officials. Another person was killed in Davao Oriental province, the Department of Health said.
The earthquake also triggered a tsunami that sent waves up to one metre high onto the coasts of Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani provinces. Authorities in Indonesia and Malaysia issued tsunami advisories for nearby coastal areas.
Government Response
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. urged residents in vulnerable coastal areas to move to higher ground and said disaster-response agencies had been placed on standby.
"Please heed the tsunami warning. Move to higher ground now. Do not wait," Marcos said.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center later said the threat of a major tsunami had largely passed about five hours after the quake, although it warned that sea-level fluctuations could continue for several more hours.
Disruptions and Geological Context
The General Santos international airport was temporarily closed and 17 domestic flights were cancelled following the earthquake, aviation officials said.
More than 100 students sustained minor injuries or fainted during panic evacuations at schools in southern provinces, disaster officials said.
Local media reported partial collapse of a commercial building housing a provincial radio station office, while debris from damaged structures fell onto vehicles parked below.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said the quake was caused by movement along the Cotabato Trench at a depth of 10 km. The US Geological Survey recorded the earthquake at a depth of 55 km and reported aftershocks of up to magnitude 6.5.
The Philippines lies along the Pacific "Ring of Fire", a region prone to frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity.
