A seismic event occurred in Mindanao, located in the southern region of the Philippines, on Saturday. The earthquake had a magnitude of at least 7.5, leading to evacuation orders and the issuance of tsunami warnings. The Philippine Seismology Agency, Phivolcs, has issued a warning stating that tsunami waves, with the potential to reach a height of one metre or more, may impact the Philippine coasts starting at midnight (1600 GMT) and lasting for several hours.
The U.S. Tsunami Warning System expressed worries about the potential occurrence of waves reaching a height of 3 metres over the normal sea level in specific coastal areas in the Philippines. Phivolcs recommended that vessels currently at sea during this time should stay in deep seas away from the shore until additional instructions are given. Furthermore, inhabitants residing in close proximity to the shorelines of Surigao Del Sur and Davao Oriental provinces were strongly advised to promptly evacuate or relocate to further inland areas.
NHK, the Japanese network, warned that tsunami waves measuring around one metre were expected to hit the southern coast of Japan at around 1:30 a.m. on Sunday (1630 GMT on Saturday).
Phivolcs anticipated minimal impact from the earthquake but warned about possible aftershocks. Raymark Gentallan, the police chief of Hinatuan, a seaside town near the epicentre of the earthquake, has reported power disruptions following the occurrence of the seismic event. Currently, the disaster response teams have not yet detected any casualties or damage.
The Philippines, located on the “Ring of Fire,” a volcanic region encircling the Pacific Ocean notorious for increased seismic activity, experiences numerous earthquakes. The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) registered the earthquake as a magnitude 7.5, occurring at a depth of 63 km (39 miles). Conversely, the earthquake was measured by the U.S. Geological Survey to have a magnitude of 7.6 and occurred at a depth of 32 km (20 miles). It was precisely located at 10:37 p.m. local time in the Philippines (1437 GMT).
Authorities are constantly monitoring the situation and stressing the significance of being prepared and following evacuation instructions to ensure the safety of citizens in the impacted areas.
Also read: https://newstym.com/earthquake-of-magnitude-3-4-strikes-ladakh/
