Tokyo, June 8: Japan’s weather agency on Monday issued tsunami advisories for a vast stretch of its Pacific coastline after a powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck waters off the southern Philippines, prompting warnings across the region.
The Japan Meteorological Agency issued advisories covering coastal areas from Ibaraki Prefecture on the eastern Pacific coast to Okinawa in the south, urging residents to remain alert for possible tsunami waves. The move came shortly after Philippine authorities issued tsunami warnings following the strong offshore quake.
According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), the earthquake occurred at 7:37 a.m. local time at a depth of 33 kilometres. The epicentre was located approximately 32 kilometres southwest of Maasim town in Sarangani Province on Mindanao Island, one of the country’s most seismically active regions.
Following the earthquake, PHIVOLCS issued tsunami warnings for nine coastal provinces and advised residents in vulnerable areas to immediately move to higher ground or further inland. Officials warned that tsunami waves were expected to arrive later in the morning and could continue for several hours.
Local media reported that the quake damaged some buildings and triggered power outages in parts of Mindanao. Strong tremors were also felt in neighbouring provinces, causing panic among residents. However, there were no immediate reports of major casualties or widespread destruction in the Philippines or neighbouring Indonesia.
Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency also issued an early tsunami warning for coastal areas in the country’s northeast, citing the potential impact of the powerful earthquake.
The quake occurred near Mindanao, the Philippines’ second-largest island, located along the Pacific “Ring of Fire” — a highly active seismic zone where several tectonic plates meet. The region frequently experiences earthquakes and volcanic activity, making it one of the most disaster-prone areas in the world.
Authorities across the region continue to monitor the situation closely as assessments of damage and tsunami risks remain underway.
