Dozens Dead After Massive Earthquake Triggers Tsunami Warnings

Dozens of people died and over 200 were injured on Monday after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake slammed the Philippines. 

The earthquake hit south of the island of Mindanao, and at least 22 million people were impacted by severe or moderate shaking. At least 32 people have been confirmed dead, over 200 people were injured, and hundreds of thousands displaced in the strongest earthquake to hit the country in nearly 40 years, according to reports. 

The quake led to tsunami warnings, but American officials quickly confirmed there was no threat to Hawaii. Tsunami warnings were issued for multiple nearby islands including Taiwan, Japan, Guam, and Papua New Guinea.

“The national government is moving and we will not leave Mindanao behind,” said Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. “I am in constant communication with our regional offices and local chief executives on the ground.”

Mindanao is the second biggest island in the Philippines and home to over 27 million people. Earthquakes frequently strike the area, with the U.S. Geological Survey noting that there have been at least 35 earthquakes measuring over 7 magnitude since 1900. 

Photo by Omar Zaghloul/Anadolu via Getty Images.

Marcos Jr. added that he ordered “the suspensions of all classes in all levels across affected areas in Mindanao until further notice. The safety of our children comes first.”

He also called for people to pay attention to the tsunami warnings, telling them to “move to higher ground now. Do not wait. Your life is more important than anything left behind.”  

The U.S. Geological Survey estimated that there would be a 42% chance that there would be between 10-100 fatalities and a 32% chance the fatalities would be between 100 and 1,000. It also gave a 39% chance that the economic damage would be between $100 million and $1 billion. The agency added that the quake occurred because of thrust faulting, when the upper block on a thrust plane moves up and over the lower block. 

One local told the New York Times that he ran for higher ground with his young daughter after the earthquake hit. 

“I was very scared, my knees were trembling,” Julius Golez said. “We were crying; so many other people were also crying.”