Manila. Strong earthquake tremors were felt in Mindanao, the southern part of the Philippines, on Monday morning. The intensity of the earthquake was recorded at 7.8 on the Richter scale. After the earthquake, a tsunami warning has been issued in many coastal areas. However, no major damage or loss of life has been officially confirmed yet.
According to the Philippines Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), the epicenter was located about 13 kilometers southwest of General Santos city on the island of Mindanao. Its depth is said to be about 10 kilometers. The tremors of this earthquake, which occurred at 7:37 am local time, were felt in many nearby areas.
After the earthquake, the American Tsunami Warning System issued an alert regarding a possible tsunami. After this, Indonesia’s Geophysical Agency also issued a warning for its north-eastern coastal areas. PHIVOLCS said waves could reach more than a meter above normal tide in affected coastal areas and their impact could last for several hours.
Teresito Bacolcol, head of the Philippines Seismological Institute, appealed to people living near the beaches to remain alert and move to safe places. The administration has put relief and rescue agencies on alert and the situation is being continuously monitored.
Apart from the Philippines, earthquake tremors were also felt in some parts of Indonesia. Officials said the situation is being monitored and people have been appealed not to pay attention to rumors and only follow official information.
It is noteworthy that Philippines is among the most earthquake affected countries in the world. The country is located in the “Pacific Ring of Fire” region of the Pacific Ocean, where natural phenomena such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions frequently occur due to the movements of tectonic plates. At present, the administration is busy assessing the damage and is preparing to deal with any emergency.
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