A strong earthquake measuring 7.4 on the magnitude scale struck off the southern coast of the Philippines on Friday night.
Officials quickly ordered people living near the coast to move inland as tsunami warnings were issued across the Philippines and nearby countries, including Indonesia.
The earthquake, which lasted for about 30 to 40 seconds, caused cracks in roads and bridges, leaving some unsafe to use. In the town of Manay, close to the quake’s centre, disaster official Richie Diuyen described the tremor as the strongest she had ever felt.
President Ferdinand Marcos called for evacuations in several coastal areas and said emergency teams were being sent to carry out search and rescue operations. Authorities had warned that waves could reach over a metre high, but later the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii confirmed that the tsunami threat had passed.
In Indonesia’s Talaud Islands, south of the Philippines, small “minor tsunamis” were recorded, and students were sent home as a safety measure. Local officials said the situation there remains calm.
The Philippines sits on the “Ring of Fire”, a region known for frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity. The country experiences more than 800 earthquakes each year, and this latest one comes just a week after one of the nation’s strongest quakes in a decade.
People in the affected areas are now waiting for power to be restored and for engineers to check the safety of damaged roads and buildings. Rescue and relief efforts are continuing.
