Tsunami Warnings and Evacuations as 7.6 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Southern Philippines

A magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck Mindanao in the southern Philippines, triggering evacuation orders. Tsunami waves of 40 cm (1.3 feet) were observed on Japan's Hachijojima island, south of Tokyo. The waves were initially expected to reach a height of 1 meter (3 feet). The US Tsunami Warning System later stated that there was no risk of a tsunami. While there were no initial reports of significant wave damage in the Philippines, people living near the coast were advised to evacuate or move farther inland. The earthquake caused power outages and aftershocks, but no casualties or major damage have been reported so far.