7.5 Magnitude Earthquake Sparks Tsunami Fears in Southern Philippines
Late on Saturday, an earthquake with a minimum magnitude of 7.5 occurred near Mindanao, southern Philippines. Fears of tsunami waves reaching a height of one meter (3 feet) or more led to the ordering of evacuation for some locations and the southwest coast of Japan.
The waves may reach the Philippines by midnight (1600 GMT). according to the Philippine Seismology Agency Phivolcs, and they might last for hours.
There might be waves up to three meters over the tide line along some Philippine shores, according to the U.S. Tsunami Warning System.
Emergency Evacuations as 7.5 Magnitude Quake Triggers Tsunami Alert
Phivolcs asked residents residing close to the coast of the provinces of Surigao Del Sur and Davao Oriental to “move farther inland” or “immediately evacuate”. adding that “boats already at sea during this period should stay offshore in deep waters until further advised.”
By 1:30 a.m. on Sunday, or roughly 30 minutes later, tsunami waves of up to one meter were predicted to hit Japan’s southwest coast. According to the Japanese broadcaster NHK (1630 GMT on Saturday).
The seaside town of Hinatuan, which is close to the epicenter of the earthquake, has lost electricity since the earthquake occurred. but emergency response teams have not yet reported any injuries or damage. according to Raymark Gentallan, the local police chief. The Philippines, which is situated on the “Ring of Fire,”. a band of volcanoes that circles the Pacific Ocean and is prone to seismic activity, experiences earthquakes often.
At a depth of 63 kilometers (39 miles), the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) reported that an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.5 had occurred. The U.S. Geographic Survey reported that the earthquake occurred around 10:37 p.m. Philippines time (1437 GMT), with a magnitude of 7.6 and a depth of 32 kilometers (20 miles).
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