Manila: A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck off the southern coast of the Philippines, resulting in the death of at least one person and prompting tsunami warnings alongside coastal evacuations.
According to Kuwait News Agency, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology reported that the earthquake occurred offshore near Manay, Davao Oriental province, on Mindanao island. The quake, initially recorded at a magnitude of 7.6, was later revised to 7.4, occurring at a depth of 23 kilometers.
Office of Civil Defense Regional Director Ednar Dayanghirang confirmed the first casualty in Calapagan, Lupon, where a residential structure collapsed due to the tremors. In addition, Governor of Davao del Norte Edwin Jubahib noted that the strong shaking led to panic, damaging some buildings and affecting homes and bridges.
Local officials in Davao Oriental responded by initiating precautionary evacuations and suspending classes, advising coastal residents to move inland or seek higher ground. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center later announced that the tsunami threat had subsided, after initially predicting waves of 1-3 meters.
This earthquake is one of the most significant in recent years in the Philippines, a country situated on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," where over 800 earthquakes are recorded annually.