7.5 magnitude earthquake strikes Southern Philippines, Tsunami warning issued

Manila, Philippines: A powerful offshore earthquake with a magnitude of 7.5 struck the southern Philippines on Friday morning, prompting tsunami warnings and reports of strong ground shaking across the region.

According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), the tectonic quake occurred at 9:43 a.m. local time, with the epicenter located approximately 62 kilometers southeast of Manay, Davao Oriental. It struck at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers (6 miles), increasing the potential for surface damage.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Honolulu issued a warning for possible hazardous tsunami waves within 300 kilometers (186 miles) of the epicenter. However, it clarified there was no widespread tsunami threat beyond that radius.

Initial measurements placed the earthquake at magnitude 7.6, but Phivolcs later revised it to 7.5. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported a slightly lower magnitude of 7.4.