At least 32 are dead after a powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit the Mindanao region in the southern Philippines on June 8, around 7:37 am local time, at a depth of about 35 kilometers (21.7 miles) according to the US Geological Survey (USGS).
The earthquake triggered panic in many parts of the archipelago as buildings collapsed. The Office of Civil Defense confirmed that at least 32 people have died, with more than 200 others injured mostly in ruined buildings. Response teams continue to verify additional reports of casualties on the ground.
“This is the strongest earthquake we’ve experienced,” Benjie Ancheta, police chief of Alabel town in Sarangani in the Philippines, told media.
A tsunami warning was issued for Phivolcs, urging residents in coastal areas to evacuate. The US Tsunami Warning System reported waves could reach one to three meters (up to 9.8 feet) above tide levels in parts of the Philippines. Indonesia and Japan also issued tsunami warnings for parts of their coastlines.
The Philippines, Indonesia, and Japan lie along the Pacific Ring of Fire, an arc of tectonic fault lines encircling the Pacific Basin that is known for frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
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