At least 15 dead, over 200 injured after 7.8-magnitude quake hits Philippines

A powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck off the southern Philippine island of Mindanao on Monday morning, killing at least 15 people and injuring more than 200 as tsunami warnings triggered evacuations across coastal communities, Report informs via Independent.

The quake hit at 7.37 am (GMT+8) near General Santos at a depth of 10km, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. Aftershocks of up to magnitude 6.5 were later recorded by the US Geological Survey.

Tsunami waves of up to one metre (3ft) were monitored in parts of Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani provinces, while the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center warned that waves of up to three metres (9.8ft) were possible along some Philippine coastlines.

Indonesia and Malaysia also issued tsunami alerts for coastal areas.