A tsunami warning was issued after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck the Philippines’ Mindanao coast on Monday morning.
Seismological agencies of the Philippines and Indonesia have issued tsunami warnings, while the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has also issued alerts for Palau, Taiwan and Papua New Guinea.
“We advise people to evacuate to higher ground or go inland,” said Teresito Bacolcol, director of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).
Phivolcs warned that tsunami waves above one meter (yard) could continue for several hours, while aftershocks could also be felt in the area.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said authorities were moving quickly to coordinate the disaster response.
“The national government is moving forward and we will not leave Mindanao behind,” Marcos said in a statement.
Indonesia withdrew its tsunami warning on Monday.
The Philippines lies along the so-called ‘Ring of Fire’ of the Pacific Ocean – an arc of seismic faults that makes the country unusually prone to volcanoes, earthquakes and tsunamis.
At least 3 killed, many injured in earthquake
Police in Mindanao said at least three people were killed and several others were injured by the earthquake as reports of damage began to emerge.
“Many buildings were affected, but I can’t count them right now because we are busy with rescue operations,” Master Sergeant Robert Dagan of the General Santos City police told news agency AFP.
“Many buildings collapsed. Some houses also collapsed.”
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the earthquake occurred 24.7 kilometers (15.3 mi) west-southwest of the city of Burias, Philippines, at a depth of 35 kilometers (22 mi).
Edited by: Rana Taha