Magnitude 7.8 Earthquake in Southern Philippines Kills at Least 16, Triggers Tsunami

(Central News Agency, Manila, 8th - Combined Foreign Reports) Philippine officials reported that a strong earthquake with a magnitude of 7.8 struck off the coast of Mindanao in the southern part of the country today, killing at least 16 people, injuring over 200, and triggering a tsunami of about 1 meter high along the nearby coast.

According to the Associated Press, buildings collapsed and critical infrastructure was damaged in General Santos City in the southern Philippines. At least one coastal village reported tsunami damage. Smaller tsunami waves were detected in Indonesia, Palau, and as far away as southern Japan.

Teresito Bacolcol, director of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), said this was the strongest earthquake to hit the Philippines this year. The epicenter was located approximately 32 kilometers southwest of the town of Maasim in Sarangani province, at a depth of 33 kilometers.

General Santos City is one of the hardest-hit areas. This port city, with a population of over 700,000, is a center for tuna exports and other commercial activities.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. emphasized, "The national government is taking action and will not abandon Mindanao."

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center stated that the tsunami threat had largely passed about five hours after the earthquake.

Philippine officials said the earthquake and waves damaged six huts in a coastal village in Zamboanga del Sur province.

Local civil defense and disaster response officials told the AP that at least seven people died in General Santos City, and another nine were killed in South Cotabato, Davao Occidental, and Balut Island.

Philippine authorities are verifying reports that students are trapped in a collapsed two-story school building in General Santos City and cannot provide further details at this time. The national police reported that at least seven people are missing.

Civil aviation officials said the General Santos City International Airport was temporarily closed, and 17 domestic flights were canceled.

Waves of 1 meter high were observed in Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani provinces. Bacolcol said a wave height of 1.4 meters was recorded near the coastal town of Kiamba in Sarangani province.

The strong earthquake in the Philippines was felt as far away as Sabah state on the island of Borneo in Malaysia, which is just a boat ride away from the southern Philippines.

A tsunami of 83 centimeters was detected off the coast of Sulawesi, Indonesia, and waves of 30 centimeters were recorded in Palau. (Editor: Hung Pei-ying) 1150608