A strong earthquake rattled southern Philippines on Wednesday, measuring 6.3 magnitude and hitting 32km southwest of Sarangani with a depth of 10km. Despite the intense tremors, authorities stated that there is no tsunami threat in the region. Fortunately, there have been no immediate reports of injuries or damage.
Harly Sauro, an island rescuer, described scenes of panic as people ran and shouted during the quake, which coincided with a government subsidy distribution event. Sauro reassured that despite the chaos, everyone remained safe with no expected casualties or significant destruction.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) indicated a low likelihood of casualties from the earthquake. However, due to the prevalence of vulnerable structures in the area, there is a potential for substantial damage. The earthquake’s impact extended to Indonesia besides the Philippines.
This seismic event follows a previous disaster just two months ago when a magnitude-7.8 earthquake displaced over 10,000 families off the coast of Mindanao island. That incident resulted in 35 fatalities and more than 100 injuries. Tsunami alerts were triggered in several countries, including the Philippines, Indonesia, Japan, and Australia, but were later lifted or reduced.
The situation is evolving, and further updates will be provided as information becomes available.
