Manila: At least 32 people are feared dead and dozens injured after a powerful 8.1 magnitude earthquake struck near the southern Philippine island of Mindanao on Monday. The earthquake struck in the sea about 20 km off Sarangani province in the morning, with tremors felt throughout Mindanao and as far as Indonesia's Sulawesi island.
After the earthquake, a tsunami warning was issued in several countries, which was withdrawn after more than six hours. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered immediate relief and rescue operations in Mindanao and said that the government stands with the people in this difficult time.
The worst-hit by the earthquake was the city of General Santos, where several buildings and shops were damaged. A fast-food restaurant building collapsed and hospitals had to be evacuated. The Philippines' seismological agency said more than 200 aftershocks were felt after the main quake, the largest of which was a magnitude of 6.7. Tsunami waves up to 0.75 meters high were also recorded in Indonesia's North Sulawesi region, forcing people to evacuate.