Asia - Pacific

Powerful earthquake strikes southern Philippines

Tsunami alert lifted after magnitude 7 quake strikes off coast of Davao city, reports say

Seyit Ahmet Aytaç  | 29.12.2018 - Update : 30.12.2018
Powerful earthquake strikes southern Philippines

Ankara

ANKARA/ BEIJING/ JAKARTA 

A major 7-magnitude earthquake rattled the southern Philippine island of Mindanao early Saturday, according to reports.  

The quake struck southeast of Davao City at a depth of 59 kilometers (36 miles), according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).  

The USGS first said the magnitude of the quake was 6.9 but later revised it to 7.  

No initial causalities or damage was reported.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre issued a tsunami warning for parts of the Philippines and Indonesia. But later, the center said that the tsunami alert was withdrawn.

"People in the Sangihe and Talaud Islands are encouraged to remain calm […] because this earthquake has no potential for a tsunami in the territory of Indonesia," Rahmat Triyono, the head of Indonesia’s Earthquake and Tsunami Center, said in a statement. 

In 2013, at least 144 people died when a 7.2 magnitude quake hit the Philippines. 


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