Powerful 7.5 magnitude earthquake rocks Philippines; Tsunami alert in Japan

Saturday, December 2, 2023

An earthquake of significant magnitude, registering at least 7.5 on the Richter scale, jolted Mindanao, located in the southern region of the Philippines, during the late hours of Saturday, setting off a chain of urgent measures and precautionary evacuations in both the Philippines and southwestern regions of Japan. Authorities issued evacuation orders for select areas due to looming tsunami threats, particularly warning of waves measuring around a meter (3 feet) or possibly more.

Phivolcs, the Philippine Seismology Agency, sounded alarms that tsunami waves could surge towards the Philippines by midnight, persisting for several hours thereafter. Concerningly, the U.S. Tsunami Warning System projected potential waves reaching up to 3 meters above the tide level along certain Philippine coastlines.

In response to these warnings, Phivolcs advised boats already navigating the waters during this timeframe to remain offshore in deeper waters until further guidance. Concurrently, individuals residing near the coasts of Surigao Del Sur and Davao Oriental provinces were urged to swiftly evacuate or relocate farther inland.

Japan’s NHK broadcaster reported expectations of tsunami waves up to a meter reaching the southwestern coasts approximately 30 minutes after the Philippines’ anticipated wave arrival, estimated at 1:30 a.m. on Sunday, as per GMT (1630 GMT on Saturday).

Although Phivolcs didn’t predict considerable damage from the initial tremor, caution prevailed regarding potential aftershocks. Despite the power outage reported by Raymark Gentallan, the local police chief in Hinatuan, situated close to the earthquake’s epicenter, no casualties or substantial damage had been reported by disaster response teams at the time of the earthquake.

The Philippines frequently experiences seismic activity due to its location on the “Ring of Fire,” a volatile zone encircling the Pacific Ocean known for its high volcanic and seismic action.

According to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC), the earthquake measured 7.5 in magnitude and occurred at a depth of 63 km (39 miles). Conversely, the U.S. Geological Survey recorded the quake as 7.6 in magnitude, with a depth of 32 km (20 miles), striking at 10:37 p.m. local time in the Philippines (1437 GMT).

The situation remains precarious, with authorities on high alert and residents bracing for potential repercussions while following evacuation directives. As seismic events unfold, vigilance and adherence to safety protocols remain paramount to mitigate potential risks.

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