A powerful magnitude 8.2 earthquake struck Mindanao Island in the Philippines. Authorities quickly issued a tsunami warning and began evacuating residents to higher ground after forecasts predicted waves exceeding one meter above normal sea level.
According to the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), the earthquake's epicenter was about 10 kilometers underground. The initial magnitude estimate was 7.3 before it was revised upward to 8.2.
Following the quake, the U.S. tsunami warning system issued an alert, while the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported that waves could exceed one meter above normal sea level.
Philippine authorities advised residents in coastal areas of several southern provinces to evacuate immediately to higher ground or move away from the shoreline to ensure their safety.
At the same time, Japan issued a wide-ranging tsunami watch along its Pacific coast in response to this powerful earthquake.
Phivolcs stated the earthquake measured magnitude 7.0 and warned it could cause damage to buildings and structures, with tsunami waves over one meter possibly continuing for several hours.
Meanwhile, Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG) estimated the earthquake’s magnitude at 7.7.
Benjie Ancheta, police chief of Alabel town in Sarangani province, Philippines, reported that cracks appeared in the police station building immediately after the quake, which occurred during a flag-raising ceremony.
Ancheta said that initially there were no reports of deaths or serious injuries, but some residents fainted due to the strong shaking.
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