Tsunami Watch Issued After 7.8 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Southern Philippines

A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck southern Philippines early Monday, prompting tsunami warnings in nearby regions. Power outages were reported as authorities urged residents to evacuate coastal areas. No immediate reports on damage or casualties were available.

The quake’s epicenter was located 8 miles southwest of General Santos City on Mindanao Island, with a depth of 6.2 miles, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. It hit at 7:37 a.m. local time.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center warned of potential tsunami waves up to 10 feet in some parts of the Philippines, while smaller waves were possible in Taiwan, Japan, Guam, Papua New Guinea, and other Pacific islands. No threat was indicated for Hawaii or the American mainland coast.

Residents in Indonesia’s North Sulawesi and North Maluku provinces also felt the tremors. Aftershocks up to 6.1 magnitude followed, with the initial quake measured at 34 miles deep by the U.S. Geological Survey. Variations in measurements are common immediately following such seismic events.

The Philippines, situated on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” is frequently affected by earthquakes and volcanic eruptions due to its location along numerous seismic faults. The country also experiences about 20 typhoons and tropical storms annually.