An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.6 struck off the coast of Mindanao on Saturday, in Philippines. A tsunami warning was issued.
The earthquake occurred at 10:37 p.m. and was measured at a depth of 32 kilometers (20 miles).
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said that based on the magnitude and location, it is expected that Tsunami waves hit the Philippines, Indonesia, Palau and Malaysia.
A Philippine government agency advised residents of the provinces of Surigao Del Sur and Davao Oriental, on the eastern coast of Mindanaothat they go immediately to higher areas or move inland.
The strong shaking also led Japan to activate the alert in areas of the southeast of the country.
”According to the local tsunami scenario database, waves are expected to experience heights of more than one meter above normal tides and may be higher in closed bays and straits. It is expected a destructive tsunami with waves of life-threatening heights“, the Philippine Department of Seismology noted in a statement.
”The population of coastal areas is strongly recommended to evacuate immediately to higher areas or move inland,” said the department, which expects the first waves to arrive between 10:37 p.m. and 11:59 p.m. local time (GMT). +8).
The United States Geological Survey, which records seismic activity around the world, located the hypocenter at a depth of 32 kilometers and about 21.2 kilometers southeast of the town of Hinatuan, with more than 40,000 residents.
The shock was felt in Davao, the most populated city in Mindanaowhere a group of people hurriedly left a shopping center that remained open until midnight, according to videos posted on social networks by witnesses.
In other images from that same city, dozens of people celebrate Saturday night at a nighttime entertainment venue when the earthquake begins to hit tables, chairs and other furniture.
The strong shaking has led the Japan Meteorological Agency to activate the tsunami warning for the regions of Miyakojima and Yaeyama and the Chiba perfecture, all in the southeast of Japan and bathed by the Pacific Ocean.
Philippines sits on the call Pacific Ring of Firean area of great seismic and volcanic activity in which about 7,000 earthquakes are recorded every year, most of them moderate.
Source: Gestion
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