7.8 magnitude earthquake and tsunami warning in the Philippines: there are victims and hundreds injured

The Philippines has once again come to terms with the force of nature after a violent 7.8 magnitude earthquake that hit the southern part of the archipelago this morning. The epicenter was located in the sea, a short distance from the coast of the island of Mindanao, one of the most seismically active areas of the country, causing extensive damage and moments of strong panic among the population.

The provisional toll speaks of at least 12 victims and over 200 injured, but rescue operations are still ongoing and the authorities do not rule out that the number may increase. The main shock was followed by a strong aftershock, with a magnitude greater than 6, further fueling residents’ concern and encouraging new collapses.

General Santos among the cities most affected by the collapses

The heaviest consequences were recorded in the area of ​​General Santos City, an important urban and commercial center in the southern Philippines. Here several buildings have suffered structural damage and some properties have completely collapsed, making search and rescue activities particularly complex.

Emergency teams are working tirelessly to check for people trapped under the rubble and assist the injured. According to local authorities, numerous homes were damaged and many families abandoned their homes for fear of further collapses.

Damage to public buildings was also reported in the province of Sarangani, including a police station which suffered deep cracks during the tremor, which occurred while the flag-raising ceremony was underway.

A tsunami warning is issued across the Pacific

In addition to the damage caused by the earthquake, the fear of a tsunami also arose in the hours immediately following. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center had in fact hypothesized the possibility of waves of up to three meters along some Philippine coasts, with possible effects also on Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, Japan, Guam and Papua New Guinea.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. invited the population of coastal areas to quickly reach higher ground and not to wait for further communications, while the authorities ordered preventive evacuations in the areas considered most exposed.

Fortunately, as the hours passed the situation turned out to be less serious than the first predictions. The waves recorded reached significantly lower heights, in some cases between approximately 0.75 meters and 1.40 metres, allowing the authorities to gradually lift tsunami warnings.

The Belt of Fire continues to remind us of its strength

The Philippines is located along the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, a vast belt characterized by intense seismic and volcanic activity that crosses much of the Pacific Ocean. Precisely this geographical position makes the country one of the most exposed to strong earthquakes.

Geological institutes have provided slightly different assessments of the depth and magnitude of the earthquake, but they all agree on the extraordinary energy released by the event. Meanwhile, civil protection continues to invite the population not to enter the damaged buildings, as the risk of further collapses remains high due to possible seismic repercussions.

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