Powerful earthquake hits Philippines, triggering tsunami alerts across Asia
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- USGS reported a magnitude 7.8 earthquake off Mindanao, Philippines at 7:40 a.m. local time (23:40 GMT Sunday).
- PHIVOLCS recorded over an hour of aftershocks and assigned a 7‑out‑of‑10 “very strong” intensity to General Santos City in the Soccsksargen region.
- PTWC warned that tsunami waves up to 3 m could strike the Philippines and up to 1 m in Indonesia and Malaysia, with first waves expected around 10 a.m. local time.
- Ferdinand Marcos activated emergency agencies, ordered school closures across Mindanao provinces, and urged residents to move to higher ground.
- Mary Ann Blanco Rhudy described chaotic road conditions and partially collapsed college buildings in General Santos City after the quake.
Why it matters: Philippine coastal residents face immediate danger; emergency activation and school closures aim to protect lives, while 3‑meter tsunami waves threaten property and disrupt commerce in affected provinces.
