7.8 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Mindanao, Killing at Least 32
A major earthquake hit the southern Philippines on June 8, triggering a tsunami warning and prompting British travel advisories for Mindanao.
indianexpress.comM. local time on June 8, killing at least 32 people and injuring more than 100 others across several provinces.
U.S. Geological Survey. It is the strongest to hit the Philippines this year. A landslide triggered by the earthquake in Glan, Sarangani province, killed 13 villagers. Four others died elsewhere in the province, and more than 20 people remain missing.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology issued a tsunami warning and advised residents and visitors in the affected areas to evacuate to higher ground as soon as possible. 7. Authorities warned that aftershocks are expected, with likely damage to buildings and infrastructure in the surrounding area.
"It's a major earthquake and we're expecting damages and we've already some damaged buildings based on videos we've seen," said Phivolcs director Teresito Bacolcol. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the national government is moving and will not leave Mindanao behind.
He suspended schools in the affected areas on the first day of the school year. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office advised against all travel to western and central Mindanao and the Sulu Archipelago, and against all but essential travel to the remainder of Mindanao. The advisory cited terrorist activity and clashes between military and insurgent groups.
The FCDO reminded Britons that their travel insurance will be invalid if they travel against the advice. Travelers may still visit Camiguin Island, Dinagat Island, and Siargao Island. Mindanao is the second-largest island in the Philippines and has a population of around 26 million people.
