Powerful 7.2 magnitude earthquake tears through Philippines with residents told to be prepared for aftershocks
- The quake struck off the shore of the Mindanao region, at a depth of 6.2 miles
- Mountainous island of Mindanao is the second largest island in the Philippines and is home to around 26 million people
A huge magnitude 7.2 earthquake has rattled the southern Mindanao region of the Philippines today, sparking fears of devastation in the region.
The quake struck off the shore of the Mindanao region, at a depth of 6.2 miles, German Research Center for Geosciences said. Shallow earthquakes are more likely to cause damage on the Earth’s surface.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said no tsunami was expected.
There were no immediate reports of casualties but the quake was felt across a wide area of the mountainous island. Mindanao is the second largest island in the Philippines and is home to around 26 million people.
Philippines’ seismology agency said the quake lasted several seconds and advised residents to be on alert for aftershocks and damage.
Damage is seen to the ceiling at a shopping centre in the Philippines after a powerful earthquake hit a large region on the country on Friday
A landslide is seen in Malapatan in Sarangani Province today after the powerful quake
Radio announcer Leny Aranego of General Santos city in South Cotabato said the strong earthquake damaged walls and toppled some computers from desks.
‘We saw how the walls cracked and computers fell,’ Aranego told DZRH radio station.
Passengers at an airport in General Santos City were evacuated to the tarmac, said Michael Ricafort, was about to board a plane to Manila when the quake hit.
‘I think it was the strongest earthquake I’ve ever experienced,’ Keeshia Leyran, 27, told AFP news agency from Davao City, about 200 kilometres from the epicentre.
‘People around me were panicking and running to go outside.
There are hundreds of people here at the event, so I was more scared of a stampede happening to be honest.’
The Philippines lies on the ‘Ring of Fire’, a belt of volcanoes circling the Pacific Ocean that is prone to seismic activity.
This is a breaking news story. More to follow…
A huge magnitude 7.2 earthquake has rattled the southern Mindanao region of the Philippines today, sparking fears of devastation in the region
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