One person died, 4 others were injured in the earthquake on June 8, AFP quoted Philippine police as saying.
Sergeant Robert Dagon of General Santos city informed that 1 person died, many buildings around the city, including a school and some houses, collapsed. Many videos posted on social networks show a school, shops and office collapsing in the city about 1,050km south of Manila capital.
DZBB radio, broadcasting from General Santos city of the Philippines, about 15km from the epicenter, reported on cases of furniture collapse and damage to electrical equipment as the area recorded aftershocks and people left their homes to find safe places.
In Sarangani province, near the epicenter, electricity and telecommunications were lost and classes were suspended, local disaster management agency head Rene Punzalan informed.
Mr. Arlene Hollero - head of disaster response for Maasim town in Sarangani province, Philippines - said that evacuation work is underway in coastal villages and there have been no reports of casualties so far. He added that a bridge was cracked and a temple collapsed.
Witnesses in Manado city in northern Indonesia and people and officials in southern Philippines said the earthquake was very strong.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called on people to pay attention to tsunami warnings and immediately move to high ground. Mr. Marcos added that officials have been directed to prepare relief goods and ensure evacuation centers are ready and operating.
He also added that classes at all levels throughout the affected areas in Mindanao will be suspended until further notice.
The earthquake was initially believed to be magnitude 8.2, then re-identified as magnitude 7.8, occurring at a depth of 35km, about 24km west of Sarangani province in Mindanao, Philippines on the morning of June 8, according to the German Geoscience Research Center (GFZ).
Dangerous widespread tsunamis could occur along some coasts of Indonesia, Philippines, Palau, Taiwan (China) and Papua New Guinea within 3 hours after the earthquake, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center noted.
The Philippine volcanic and seismic agency warned of damage and tsunami risks of over 1m high. The first tsunamis occurred around 7:37 am to 9:37 am local time and could "lasting for hours".
Japan has also issued tsunami warnings along many coastal areas of the Pacific Ocean. The Japan Meteorological Agency issued tsunami warnings to areas stretching from Ibaraki Prefecture near Tokyo to the southernmost island province of Okinawa. The Japan Meteorological Agency said that tsunamis up to 1m high are expected to hit Miyako Island and Yaeyama Islands in Okinawa from 11:30 am, local time.
Indonesia has ordered the evacuation of residents from northern areas due to tsunami risks after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake in Mindanao, Philippines. Tsunamies have been recorded in several locations along the Indonesian coast, according to the country's Bureau of Meteorology, Climate and Geophysics (BMKG). Waves were recorded as high as 0.75m, with the first waves around 7:20 am local time.
