A powerful earthquake has resulted in the tragic death of a pregnant woman, leaving four people injured and nine missing on Mindanao, the Philippines’ second-largest island.
Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro reported that 529 families have been affected by the earthquake, measured by the US Geological Survey at 7.6 magnitude late on Saturday, followed by four significant aftershocks surpassing 6.0. Although tsunami warnings were initially issued, they were later lifted.
Contrary to the US Geological Survey’s measurement, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology recorded the quake at 7.4, noting over 600 aftershocks ranging from 1.4 to 6.2 in magnitude.
Coastal residents in Surigao Del Sur and Davao Oriental were urged to evacuate to higher ground after the initial earthquake off Mindanao’s eastern coast at approximately 22:37 local time. People in affected areas were seen fleeing buildings, seeking refuge in open spaces, and hospitals in Butuan City evacuated patients.
While no major damage to buildings or infrastructure was reported in Bilsig City, some roads in Surigao Del Sur province exhibited cracks during the earthquake and aftershocks. In Japan, northeast of the Philippines, tsunami waves of up to 0.4m were observed on outlying islands.
Both countries are part of the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” characterized by intense seismic activity. These earthquakes in Mindanao occurred nearly two weeks after a 6.7 magnitude quake hit the island, resulting in casualties and structural damage.
