Major Aftershocks Jolt Philippines After 7.6-magnitude Quake

AFP/APP

Manila: A powerful magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck the southern Philippines on Saturday, as reported by the US Geological Survey.

The earthquake originated off the coast at a depth of 32 kilometers (20 miles) at 10:37pm, approximately 21 kilometers northeast of Hinatuan municipality on Mindanao Island.

Following the initial quake, the region experienced four significant aftershocks with magnitudes of 6.4, 6.2, 6.1, and 6.0 over several hours, according to the USGS.

Tsunami warnings were swiftly issued, prompting residents in northeast Mindanao to evacuate coastal areas, flee buildings, and seek higher ground. However, these warnings were later lifted as the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre in Hawaii confirmed that the threat had passed.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology initially alerted of potential destructive tsunamis with life-threatening wave heights, but later confirmed that the highest waves observed were 64 centimeters (25 inches) on Mawes Island and that the tsunami warning had ended.

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Despite the strength of the quake, no casualties or major property damage were reported by Hinatuan police Sergeant Joseph Lambo. However, there were instances of items falling off shelves, including broken appliances and fallen motorcycles, prompting the evacuation of approximately 45,000 residents to higher ground as a precautionary measure.

Videos shared on social media depicted the chaos caused by the quake, with products falling off shelves in stores and people fleeing in fear. Dennis Orong’s footage captured the panic in Lianga, where residents were seen running along the streets amid the tremors.

“It was a very traumatic experience,” shared a 26-year-old hairdresser, Dennis Orong, recounting the fear induced by the earthquake and exploding electric poles.

Palau, situated around 900 kilometers (560 miles) off Mindanao, reported no impact, while tsunami warnings reached as far as Japan’s eastern Pacific coast, causing small waves of up to 40 centimeters in some areas.

The immediate response included evacuations and cautionary measures, yet fortunately, there were no severe casualties or significant destruction reported in the aftermath of the quake.