Additional Coverage:
- Philippines earthquake: Horrific moment Jollibee restaurant collapses in 7.8 magnitude quake (irishstar.com)
Disturbing footage has emerged showing a Jollibee restaurant collapsing during a powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck the southern Philippines late Sunday night.
The structure reportedly gave way in General Santos City, located in the Soccsksargen region of Mindanao. The tremor hit around 11:38 p.m.
UTC, originating in the southern part of the country. In response, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) issued alerts for several nations across the western Pacific.
The PTWC warned of potentially dangerous tsunami waves affecting coastal areas in the Philippines, Indonesia, Palau, Yap, Taiwan, and Papua New Guinea within the next three hours. The earliest waves were expected near the quake’s epicenter in southern Philippines and eastern Indonesia shortly after midnight UTC.
Davao, the Philippines’ largest city, could see the first tsunami wave as early as 12:08 a.m. Officials cautioned that initial tsunami waves are often not the most destructive, emphasizing that multiple waves may follow and that the risk from tsunami waters could last for several hours after the first impact. Authorities in vulnerable areas have been urged to alert residents and activate emergency response plans as necessary.
Residents living in low-lying coastal communities have been advised to stay tuned to official updates and follow instructions from local emergency officials. The PTWC confirmed it will issue updated guidance within the hour or sooner if conditions change.
According to the German Research Center for Geosciences, the earthquake struck at a depth of approximately 6.2 miles. Meanwhile, New Zealand’s National Emergency Management Agency is also monitoring the event and assessing any potential threat to its territory.
“If a tsunami has been generated in this location, it is not likely to arrive in New Zealand for at least 10 hours,” the agency stated. They added that their advisory is based on preliminary data and that updates will follow as more information becomes available.
Tsunami tracking sources have clarified there is no threat to the U.S. West Coast, British Columbia, or Alaska. However, Pacific coastal regions outside of California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and Alaska are advised to follow official PTWC messages.
Additional videos circulating on social media show buildings and power lines swaying dramatically as the earthquake shook the Philippines, with one clip depicting a construction site violently trembling amid the strong quake. Emergency officials continue to monitor the situation closely as rescue and assessment efforts proceed.