A powerful earthquake struck off the southern Philippine island of Mindanao on Monday (8 June), killing at least 32 people and triggering tsunami warnings across the region.
Philippine police said 129 people were injured in the magnitude 7.8 quake, which struck offshore near Mindanao.
Authorities also reported power outages, infrastructure damage and disruptions to communications in areas close to the epicentre.
Tsunami alerts were issued in the Philippines and parts of neighbouring Indonesia, with coastal communities urged to move to higher ground as a precaution.
However, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) later lifted its tsunami alert, saying that observed sea level disturbances were too small to cause damage.
In General Santos, about 15 kilometres from the epicentre, local media reported falling furniture and damage to televisions and other household appliances. Local disaster officials said assessments of damage and any casualties were continuing.
The General Santos disaster office said officials were assessing reports of damage and injuries while aftershocks were still being felt.
In Sarangani province, near the epicentre, power and telecommunications services were disrupted and schools suspended classes, according to local disaster chief Rene Punzalan.
Authorities said assessments were continuing, with no immediate reports of collapsed buildings.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said the government was moving quickly to coordinate its response.
"The national government is moving and we will not leave Mindanao behind," Marcos said in a statement.
In Maasim town, disaster chief Arlene Hollero said evacuations were underway in coastal villages.
Water briefly receded after the quake, raising concerns about possible tsunami activity, although sea conditions later appeared normal, she said.
A bridge suffered cracks and a shrine topped by a large cross collapsed.
"It's devastating," Hollero told Reuters.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) warned that tsunami waves exceeding one metre could affect coastal areas for several hours.
Indonesia's geophysics agency said waves measuring around 0.19 metres had been detected, while authorities there reported no immediate damage.
Witnesses in Indonesia's northern city of Manado and residents across southern Philippines said the earthquake was felt strongly.
Benjie Ancheta, police chief in the town of Alabel, said the local police station suffered cracks during the quake, which struck while officers were attending a flag-raising ceremony.
"This is the strongest earthquake we've experienced," Ancheta said.
The German Research Centre for Geosciences said the earthquake struck at a depth of 10 kilometres. It initially estimated the quake at magnitude 8.2 before revising it to 7.8.
The Philippines and Indonesia sit along the Pacific Ring of Fire, one of the world's most active seismic zones, where earthquakes and volcanic activity are common.
The death toll from an overnight Russian attack on the Kyiv region rose to four, including three children, Kyiv regional authorities said on Sunday...
Houthi attacks target Riyadh amid concerns over Saudi oil supplies, as Iran says it will not reopen the Strait of Hormuz until its conditions are m...
German voters cast ballots on Sunday in two state elections that could add to the political pressure on Chancellor Friedrich Merz, as his governmen...
Iran's Revolutionary Guards Navy said a Togo-flagged oil tanker was struck while attempting to make an “illegal passage” through the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian state media said early on Friday.
Saudi civil defence sent an all-clear on Saturday after issuing alerts for a second time for potential danger in Riyadh and the city of Al-Kharj east of the capital, amid an uptick in attacks by Iran-aligned Houthis on the Gulf country.
The European Union will disburse €3.3 billion ($3.8 billion) to Ukraine for missiles and drones, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said after a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Houthi attacks target Riyadh amid concerns over Saudi oil supplies, as Iran says it will not reopen the Strait of Hormuz until its conditions are met and U.S. commitments are implemented, parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on Sunday.
The U.S. State Department approved a $2.7 billion military sale to Ukraine for air-defence development upgrades, along with related equipment and services, the department said. Meanwhile, Ukrainian authorities reported at least 10 people had died in Russian attacks over the last 24 hours.
German voters cast ballots on Sunday in two state elections that could add to the political pressure on Chancellor Friedrich Merz, as his government faces growing public frustration and a resurgent far right.
Iraq has returned restricted airspace across the western part of the country to civilian authorities, ending limits imposed for military operations against Islamic State since 2016, the Transport Ministry said.
Denmark and Greenland have moved to reassure the public that their sovereignty will remain intact under a new security agreement with the United States.
World leaders are set to gather at the United Nations General Assembly in New York for several days of high-level debate, with Iran, Ukraine, artificial intelligence (AI) and a range of global crises expected to dominate discussions this week.
Ed Sheeran has broken his silence on the controversy surrounding his U.S. tour, apologising for decisions made after rapper Macklemore was removed from the line-up over his public support for Palestine.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment