A strong earthquake jolted the southern Philippines on Friday, prompting authorities to issue a tsunami warning for coastal areas. The 7.4-magnitude quake struck the Mindanao region, and officials warned that aftershocks and damage were likely in the affected areas.
According to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC), the earthquake occurred at a depth of 62km (38.53 miles) near the town of Manay, about 20km from the epicentre. The agency had initially reported the magnitude as 7.2 before revising it to 7.4.
Both the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) and the US Tsunami Warning System issued alerts, cautioning that dangerous tsunami waves could hit coastlines within 300km (186 miles) of the epicentre.
The impact of the tremor was also felt in neighbouring Indonesia, where the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency warned of potential tsunamis in North Sulawesi and Papua regions.
Residents in these areas were advised to stay alert and move to higher ground if necessary.
Authorities are monitoring the situation closely, urging people to follow safety instructions while emergency teams prepare for possible rescue operations in the affected communities.
More to follow......