A strong 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit Mindanao, Philippines, resulting in deaths and injuries as authorities evaluate the damage.
At least 16 people lost their lives and around 200 were injured after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit General Santos in the southern Philippines on Monday, according to Reuters.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a separate alert warning of possible tsunami threats over the next three hours along parts of the coasts of Indonesia, the Philippines, Palau, Taiwan, and Papua New Guinea. The earthquake struck at a depth of 10 kilometers, according to Bloomberg, citing the GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences.
Several users on social media platform X shared videos allegedly showing buildings collapsing during the earthquake.
One viral clip shows children assembled at a schoolground as a shelter collapses after a teacher is seen helping students practise earthquake safety measures.
In another video shared on social media, residents can be seen running for safety as a building collapses.
Another clip circulating on X appears to show water sloshing violently in a pool, highlighting the intensity of the earthquake.
Social Media Responds
“One of the strongest earthquakes in recent years has reportedly hit Mindanao, Philippines. While the magnitude grabs attention, the real concern is for the people affected. Prayers for everyone impacted,” one user posted.
“Nature can be truly terrifying at times,” another user wrote.
Agripino Dacera, General Santos’ disaster management chief, said the reported deaths were still being verified as authorities continued assessing the extent of the damage on the ground.
What did authorities in the Philippines and Indonesia say?
Authorities in the Philippines and Indonesia advised residents to move to higher ground after tsunami waves of up to three feet hit parts of the Philippine coastline. According to AFP, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. suspended classes in affected areas of Mindanao and urged people living in coastal regions to evacuate immediately.
“Move to higher ground immediately. Do not wait,” he said. “Your life matters more than anything you leave behind.”
Indonesia issues tsunami alert
Indonesia issued tsunami warnings for multiple regions, including parts of Kalimantan on Borneo island and sections of Sulawesi, cautioning that waves could reach up to three meters, according to a statement from the national weather agency.
Meanwhile, in General Santos city in the southern Philippines, part of a building collapsed, Bloomberg reported, citing radio station dzRH. Students were evacuated on the first day of school, while a hospital shifted patients outdoors and onto nearby streets as a precautionary measure.