7.8 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Southern Philippines, Tsunami Warning Issued
A powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck the southern Philippines early Monday, with the epicenter located 13 kilometers southwest of General Santos city on Mindanao island. The earthquake, which occurred at a depth of 10 kilometers, prompted the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology to issue a tsunami warning, advising residents in coastal areas to evacuate to higher ground. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center indicated that tsunami waves up to 3 meters could impact some Philippine coasts, with smaller waves possible in Indonesia, Malaysia, and other parts of the western Pacific. Power outages were reported, and aftershocks as strong as 6.1 magnitude followed the initial quake.