A strong earthquake jolted southern Philippines on Wednesday, measuring 6.3 magnitude and striking 32km southwest of Sarangani with a depth of 10km. Despite the intense shaking, authorities reassured that there is no tsunami threat to the region. Fortunately, there have been no immediate reports of injuries or damage.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as people ran and shouted during the tremor. Harly Sauro, an island rescuer, mentioned that the quake coincided with a government subsidy distribution, leading to a large gathering. Sauro confirmed that everyone remained safe, and he expressed confidence that there would be minimal casualties or destruction.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) indicated a low likelihood of casualties but warned of potential significant damage due to vulnerable property structures in the affected areas. The earthquake’s impact extended to Indonesia in addition to the Philippines.
This seismic event occurred just two months after a magnitude-7.8 earthquake displaced over 10,000 families off the coast of Mindanao island, resulting in 35 fatalities and over 100 injuries. Following the recent earthquake, tsunami alerts were issued for multiple countries, including the Philippines, Indonesia, Japan, and Australia, but were later lifted or reduced.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.