An earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale struck the Philippines, leaving at least 19 people dead and more than 200 injured. The quake also triggered a tsunami with waves reaching one meter in height, although authorities say the threat of a major tsunami has now passed.
“This is a powerful earthquake,” said Teresito Bacolcol, director of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. He warned residents to seek guidance before returning to damaged buildings and homes, as they could collapse due to aftershocks.
The earthquake caused extensive damage in the city of General Santos, where thousands of residents were displaced, buildings collapsed, and critical infrastructure was damaged.
Smaller tsunami waves generated by the earthquake were recorded in Indonesia, Palau, Malaysia, and Japan.
General Santos is a port city with a population of more than 700,000 and serves as a regional hub for the tuna export industry and other commercial activities.
It was the strongest earthquake to hit the Philippines this year and was centered near Mindanao, the country’s second-most populous island.
The quake was the strongest recorded in the Philippines this year and had its epicenter offshore, near Mindanao. It struck at a depth of 33 kilometers beneath the seabed.
Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the cancellation of school classes and instructed disaster-response agencies to immediately mobilize in the provinces affected by the earthquake.
Source: Associated Press
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