Manila: According to the Philippines’ seismology service, an earthquake of magnitude 7.5 occurred offshore in the southern Philippines on Friday morning. People in the surrounding coastal areas were advised to evacuate to higher ground, and tsunami warnings were issued in other nations.
The powerful earthquake occurred in waters near Manay town in Davao Oriental, Mindanao, and the Phivolcs agency issued a warning about damage and aftershocks.
The depth of the earthquake was estimated to be 20 kilometers (12 miles), and the magnitude was revised down from an earlier report of 7.6 to 7.5.
Hazardous waves could hit shores within 300 kilometers (186 miles) of the epicenter of the earthquake, according to a tsunami danger issued by the US Tsunami Warning System.