Tsunami alert in the Philippines after 7.8 magnitude earthquake! First images from the region

The Southeast Asian nation of the Philippines was shaken by a violent earthquake during the night. The magnitude of the tremor felt on the island of Mindanao was measured at 7.8. In a statement, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the epicenter of the main earthquake was recorded southwest of the town of Kablalan in Sarangani province, at a depth of approximately 55 kilometers.

Dozens of aftershocks occurred in the region following the earthquake. These were reported to range in magnitude from 4.6 to 6.5. Following the tremors, a state of alert was declared in the Philippines as well as in coastal areas and neighboring countries due to the possibility of a tsunami.

Teresito Bacolcol, Director of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, shared the information in an assessment to the Associated Press, stating, "We observed tsunami waves reaching 1 meter at our land-based observation stations in the provinces of Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani."

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. reiterated his call for citizens to quickly reach higher ground, especially in all areas considered vulnerable to tsunamis. Furthermore, President Marcos indicated that disaster response teams across the country are on standby.

Immediately following this development, the Malaysian Meteorological Department also issued a tsunami warning for the public living in the state of Sabah on the island of Borneo.

It is noted that major earthquakes are common in the Philippines, which is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire. Calls for necessary precautions to be taken and for the public to heed the warnings of authorities are being repeated throughout the country.

News Source: 12punto