A powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Mindanao island in the southern Philippines. The tremor was recorded shortly before 7:40 AM local time on Sunday, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

Following the major quake, tsunami warnings were swiftly issued for several Asian nations.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center cautioned that hazardous tsunami waves reaching up to 3 meters above tide levels could hit the coastal areas of the Philippines.

Additionally, waves of up to 1 meter are anticipated along some coastal fringes of Indonesia and Malaysia.

Conversely, the National Tsunami Warning Center confirmed that there is no tsunami threat posed to the coastal regions of the United States from this earthquake.

Evacuations Ordered in Coastal Zones
Authorities across the Philippines, Indonesia, and Japan have issued emergency alerts for coastal inhabitants.

Government officials have urged citizens in vulnerable areas to evacuate immediately to higher ground and safer locations.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) stated that residents living in the coastal stretches of nine provinces—including Sarangani, Davao Occidental, Tawi-Tawi, and Sulu—must immediately move inland or to elevated areas.

Marine Advisories Issued
Special operational directives have also been issued for maritime vessels. Boats currently docked at ports, estuaries, or navigating shallow coastal waters have been instructed to move quickly into deep-sea areas.

Meanwhile, ships and vessels already out at sea have been advised to remain in deep waters until further notice.

Emergency agencies are closely monitoring the situation as it develops and have urged the public to maintain readiness to mitigate potential tsunami risks.

Local residents have been strongly requested to follow official government instructions and disregard unverified rumors.
Source: Al Jazeera