MANILA, June 8 — At least five people have been reported dead after a 7.8-magnitude offshore earthquake that hit the southern Philippines, according to a local disaster official.
Xinhua reported that General Santos City's disaster management chief Agripino Dacera said the authorities are still verifying the extent of the fatalities and damage.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said the tectonic earthquake occurred at 7.37am local time at a depth of 33km, with the epicentre 32km southwest of the coast of Maasim town in Sarangani Province on Mindanao Island, close to General Santos, with a population of some 700,000.
The highest recorded wave reached 1.4 metres, while local media reported that some buildings collapsed and power outages occurred. Tremors were felt in neighbouring provinces.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr ordered disaster response and monitoring efforts across affected areas and urged residents to evacuate to higher ground.
The Philippines experiences frequent seismic activity due to its location along the Pacific "Ring of Fire," a zone of major tectonic plate boundaries known for earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
