A magnitude 7.6 earthquake hits Philippines triggering tsunami alerts

A strong earthquake that hit the southern Philippines has resulted in at least one fatality, prompting the evacuation of thousands since tsunami warnings were later rescinded. The magnitude 7.6 quake occurred off the coast of Mindanao Island at a depth of 32km and was followed by four significant aftershocks with magnitudes exceeding 6.0. The European Mediterranean Seismological Centre, however, assessed the quake's magnitude at 7.5.

The initial quake struck at 10:37 pm (14:37 GMT), triggering tsunami alerts across the Pacific region. Residents along the east coast of Mindanao evacuated buildings and a hospital soughing on higher ground. In Japan, authorities issued evacuation orders late on Saturday in various parts of Okinawa prefecture, impacting thousands of people, including the entire coastal area.

Tragically, a pregnant woman lost her life when a concrete wall of a height equal to 4.5m collapsed on her, her husband, and her daughter in Tagum city in Davao del Norte province. Fortunately, her husband and her daughter sustained only injuries. The quake prompted them to flee their house.

The US Tsunami Warning System initially warned of potential waves up to 3m above the usual high tide level along some parts of the Philippine coast but later clarified that there was no tsunami risk. Japanese broadcaster NHK anticipated tsunami waves of up to 1m reaching Japan's southwest coast by 1:30 am on Sunday (16:30 GMT on Saturday).

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) stated that significant damage is not expected from the quake itself but due to potential aftershocks. The coastal city of Hinatuan's local police chief reported power outages and evacuations from coastal areas but no casualties or damage.

Civil aviation officials reported no major damage in several southern airports, and flight operations remained unaffected. Furthermore, many villagers who sought refuge in evacuation centers returned home on Sunday. It is mentioned that the Philippines is prone to frequent seismic activity since it is situated on the Ring of Fire, a volcanic belt encircling the Pacific Ocean.