Evacuations were under way in the Philippines after a quake of at least magnitude 7.5 struck the southern region of Mindanao on Saturday, triggering tsunami warnings in the country and in Japan, though a U.S. agency said the risk of large waves had passed.
The U.S. Tsunami Warning System, which initially warned of waves of up to 3 metres above the usual high tide level, later said there was no longer a tsunami threat.
Evacuations were continuing in the Philippines, where there were no initial reports of significant wave damage or casualties despite continuing aftershocks.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, Phivolcs, maintained that the risk of a tsunami remained.
People living near the coast of Surigao Del Sur and Davao Oriental provinces should “immediately evacuate” or “move farther inland”, Phivolcs said in its initial warning.
“Boats already at sea during this period should stay offshore in deep waters until further advised,” it said.
The two provinces are largely rural and not densely populated, unlike other parts of the Philippines.
Phivolcs said it was expecting some damage from the tremor, having initially said it didn’t expect any damage, and warned of aftershocks. ‘IT IS SHAKING AGAIN’
The area was quickly hit by more than two dozen aftershocks, the largest measuring magnitude 6.5, according to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC).
Source: Reuters