A powerful magnitude-7.4 earthquake struck off the southeastern coast of the Philippines' Mindanao island on Friday, triggering tsunami warnings across the region. The quake occurred at a depth of 32 kilometers at 8:14 PM local time, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.
Local authorities immediately issued evacuation orders for coastal communities, warning of potential tsunami waves reaching up to 3 meters. "Residents must move to higher ground and avoid coastal areas until further notice," stated a spokesperson from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center confirmed tsunami risks for eastern Philippine shores and neighboring areas in Indonesia and Palau. Seismic activity remains high in the region, which sits along the Pacific Ring of Fire – home to 90% of the world's earthquakes.
Initial reports indicate power outages and structural damage in Surigao del Sur province, though no casualties have been confirmed. The Philippine Coast Guard has suspended port operations while engineers assess infrastructure safety.
