Philippines: Tsunami warning issued after magnitude-7.1 earthquake strikes in Philippine Sea southeast of Mindanao at around 01:46 Aug. 12 /update 1

Event

A magnitude-7.1 earthquake occurred in the Philippine Sea southeast of Mindanao at around 01:46 Aug. 12. The epicenter was about 142 km (88 miles) east-southeast of Davao City, the Philippines. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 65 km (40 miles), and strong-to-violent shaking was reported in areas near the epicenter, with moderate shaking occurring in areas of Mindanao further from the epicenter. There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties, though at least some degree of structural damage is highly likely in parts of Davao Oriental Province. It could take several hours until authorities can conduct comprehensive damage assessments, especially in remote areas. Aftershocks are likely over the coming days.

Officials have issued a tsunami warning following the earthquake. Tsunamis are possible in coastal areas within at least 300 km (186 miles) of the earthquake's epicenter.

Officials may shut down transportation infrastructure in the tremor zone to check for damage. The earthquake may have triggered landslides in some areas. Utility outages are also possible, particularly near the earthquake's epicenter.

Advice

Move away from the immediate coastline; tsunamis can be long-duration events, and the threat may persist for hours. Vacate multistoried buildings or unreinforced structures in areas where strong shaking occurred; aftershocks could cause additional damage. Cellular networks may be overwhelmed; use text messaging if services are available. Due to the threat of landslides, seek updated information on road conditions before driving in hilly areas in the affected area. Confirm all transport reservations in the affected area.