felt across much of the country, buildings collapsed, and authorities immediately issued tsunami warnings.
The epicenter was at sea, off the coast of the island of Mindanao, near the city of General Santos. According to preliminary information, at least a dozen people have died, and many buildings have been damaged or collapsed.
Tsunami threatens the region
Following the earthquake, the tsunami warning system was immediately activated. Alerts were issued for the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, as well as the coasts of Japan and other countries in the Pacific region.
The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a warning of possible tsunami waves of up to 1 meter in some areas. Residents of coastal areas were urged to evacuate to higher ground.
So far there are no reports of large tsunami waves reaching land, but the situation is being closely monitored.
Panic and evacuations
The tremors sparked panic among residents. Many people ran out of their homes and buildings into the streets. Authorities are appealing for calm and for people to follow the instructions of rescue services.
This is another strong earthquake in the region recently. The Philippines lie on the so-called Ring of Fire, one of the most seismically active areas in the world.
Rescue services are on full alert, and experts warn of possible aftershocks.
