Major 7.8 earthquake strikes Philippines, tsunami threat issued

A major magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck the southern Philippines, causing major damage near the epicentral area and triggering tsunami warnings across the region, according to preliminary reports.

The earthquake struck at 7:38 a.m. local time on Monday, or 7:38 p.m. Sunday ET, and was centered in the Mindanao region of the Philippines, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). It struck at a depth of 63 kilometers (39 miles).

Damage was reported in areas near the epicenter, including around General Santos City, where witness footage showed several buildings partially collapsing. In one video, a restaurant could be seen collapsing in front of people.

There were also reports of collapses at schools and commercial buildings, though the full extent of the damage was not immediately clear.

The Philippines issued its own tsunami warning after the earthquake. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) said tsunami waves of 1 to 3 meters, or about 3 to 10 feet, were possible for parts of the Philippines.

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