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a powerful offshore Earthquake hit the southern philippines On Friday morning, a tsunami warning was issued for parts of Southeast Asia And at least two people died, officials said.
A magnitude 7.4 quake struck at a depth of about 23 km in waters off the town of Manay in Davao Oriental province at 9.43 a.m. local time (01.43 GMT), according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs). The agency said there was a possibility of aftershocks.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center initially warned of waves up to 3 meters high on some Philippine coasts, but later said the danger had passed. Tsunami warning continues Indonesia and Palau, where waves of up to one meter were possible.
Civil protection official Raffy Alejandro confirmed the first death and said teams were assessing reports of damage to homes, buildings, roads and bridges near the epicenter. “We are asking residents of coastal areas to remain vigilant until all warnings are lifted,” he said.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said search and rescue teams were being prepared and would be deployed when conditions became favorable.
“We are working around the clock to ensure that help reaches everyone in need,” he said in a statement.
Richie Duyen, a disaster official in Manyay, said the quake lasted 30 to 40 seconds and was the most powerful earthquake ever recorded. “We couldn’t afford it at first,” she said over the phone. “The damage is quite huge.”
Video shared from Davao City showed workers hiding under desks as walls caved in and cabinets fell. Local officials in nearby towns suspended classes while they checked public buildings.
The United States Tsunami Warning System said dangerous waves could occur within 300 kilometers of the epicenter. Indonesia issued warnings for its North Sulawesi and Papua regions.
“Some buildings were reported damaged. It was very strong,” Davao Oriental Governor Edwin Jubahib told local radio.
This earthquake was one of the most powerful earthquakes to hit the Philippines in recent years. The country is located on the seismically active Pacific “Ring of Fire” and experiences hundreds of aftershocks annually.
This comes less than two weeks after a 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck Cebu province, killing at least 74 people and displacing thousands, the country’s deadliest earthquake in more than a decade.