MANILA, Philippines (AP) – An offshore earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.6 struck the Philippines’ southern province on Friday morning, prompting authorities to order villagers to evacuate nearby coastal provinces due to the possibility of a tsunami.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he was assessing the potential damage and preparing rescue teams and operations to be dispatched as soon as it was safe to do so.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said damage and aftershocks were expected from the earthquake, which was caused by the movement of a shallow fault 10 kilometers (6 miles) deep with an epicenter offshore about 62 kilometers (38 miles) southeast of Manay town in eastern Davao province.
Children were evacuated from schools in Davao City, the largest city near the epicenter and with a population of about 5.4 million, located about 250 kilometers west of the eastern province of Davao.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Honolulu said dangerous waves were possible within 300 kilometers of the epicenter. The report said some coasts in the Philippines could experience waves up to 3 meters (10 feet) above normal tides, while Indonesia and Palau could experience smaller waves.
Civil Defense Deputy Secretary Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV warned that a tsunami could hit six neighboring coastal provinces from Davao Oriental within up to two hours after the 9:43 a.m. earthquake struck, and urged people to immediately move to higher ground or move inland away from coastal areas.
“We urge the people of these coastal areas to remain vigilant and immediately evacuate to higher ground until further notice,” Alejandro said in a video news conference.
“Boat owners in harbors and in coastal areas should secure their boats and stay away from the water,” he said.
Indonesian authorities have issued a tsunami warning for northeastern Papua and North Sulawesi provinces, about 275 kilometers from the epicenter. In a statement, Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysical Agency urged residents in the area to exercise caution and stay away from beaches and riverbanks.
The Philippines is still in the process of recovery Earthquake on September 30th The magnitude 6.9 earthquake killed at least 74 people and displaced thousands in central Cebu province, particularly Bogo City and suburban towns.
The Philippines, one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world, is frequently struck by earthquakes and other disasters. volcanic eruption That’s because it sits on the Pacific Rim of Volcano, an arc of seismic faults around the ocean.
About 20 people also hit the archipelago. typhoon and storm Every year, disaster response becomes a major task for governments and volunteer organizations.
