GUWAHATI: At least three people were killed and more than 200 injured after a powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck off the southern Philippines on Monday, June 8, triggering tsunami warnings across the region, forcing coastal evacuations and disrupting power and communication services near the epicentre.
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As per reports, the Philippines' Office of Civil Defense later said the death toll could be as high as eight, but noted that the figure remains subject to verification as rescue teams and local authorities continue to assess the situation in affected areas.
The earthquake reportedly struck off the coast of General Santos City on Mindanao, the country's main southern island.
Following the quake, the United States Tsunami Warning System issued a tsunami threat alert, warning that hazardous waves could affect coastlines across the region. Indonesia's geophysics agency also issued tsunami warnings for parts of the country's northeastern coast.
Authorities in several countries, including the Philippines, Indonesia and Japan, issued tsunami advisories and warnings after the earthquake. However, most of these alerts have since been lifted.
Emergency response teams have been deployed to affected areas, while officials continue to assess damage and conduct search and rescue operations. Power outages and communication disruptions were reported in several locations near the epicentre.
The earthquake is among the strongest to hit the region in recent years and comes as authorities remain on alert for possible aftershocks.