A 7.6-magnitude earthquake off the coast of the southern Philippines causes tsunami alerts

A 7.6-magnitude earthquake off the coast of the southern Philippines causes tsunami alerts
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Around midnight on Saturday, a strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.6 struck off the coast of the southern Philippines, sending many villagers running for their lives after tsunami warnings were issued by Philippine authorities.

The U.S. Geological Survey reports that the earthquake struck at 10:37 p.m. at a depth of 32 kilometers (20 miles). There were no immediate reports of significant injuries or damage.

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At first, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center predicted that tsunami waves would strike portions of Indonesia, Malaysia, and the southern Philippines due to their size and location. However, the tsunami alert was later withdrawn by the center.

Authorities in Japan ordered thousands of people to evacuate from several areas of Okinawa Prefecture, including the entire coastal area.

Head of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology Teresito Bacolcol told The Associated Press that his organization immediately advised residents along the coast of Davao Oriental and southern Surigao del Sur provinces to move farther inland or to higher ground.

The earthquake agency issued a tsunami warning, advising boat owners in harbors, estuaries, or shallow coastal waters off the two provinces to secure their vessels and leave the waterfront area. It stated that boats that are already at sea should remain offshore in deep waters until further notice.

A 1-meter (3.2-foot) tsunami may occur, according to Bacolcol, based on the magnitude of the earthquake; however, waves in enclosed coves, bays, and straits may be higher.

Around midnight, residents of Hinatuan town and its surrounding areas in Surigao del Sur province began to evacuate their homes in search of safety, as reported by the government’s disaster response agency. However, the agency was unable to immediately furnish precise details.

Images shared on the Facebook page of the Hinatuan government depict locals escaping to higher ground at night on foot or in cars, trucks, motorcycles, and tricycle taxis.

Bacolcol said that no reports of a tsunami striking the coast had come in from his agency’s field offices more than three hours after the earthquake struck, but authorities would still be keeping an eye on things.

Because of its position on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” an arc of seismic faults encircling the ocean, the Philippines is one of the most disaster-prone nations on earth and is frequently struck by earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Additionally, the archipelago experiences roughly 20 storms and typhoons annually.

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