At least 15 people were killed and more than 200 injured after a powerful earthquake struck the Philippines on Monday.
According to Bloomberg, the quake measured 8.1 in magnitude, triggering tsunami warnings, damaging buildings and forcing evacuations in several areas.
Reuters, citing the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), reported that the earthquake was measured at 7.8 magnitude at one of the country's southern islands.
The powerful tremor also generated a tsunami of up to 1 metre (3 feet) that washed ashore along nearby coastlines, officials said. Rescue operations remain under way in several affected areas.
Several videos circulating on social media captured terrifying scenes of buildings collapsing as the earthquake struck. Footage showed structures crumbling into piles of debris, while residents rushed to safety amid panic and confusion.
Also Read: Major 8.2 earthquake hits off Mindanao coast in Philippines; tsunami alert issuedHigh school and university buildings were among the structures reported to have suffered damage as the strong tremor shook parts of the country.
The earthquake struck off the southern Philippine island of Mindanao, with initial assessments warning of potential damage and hazardous tsunami waves.
According to viral videos shared online, several buildings were seen crumbling into rubble as the ground shook violently. In one clip filmed outside a school campus, students were seen gathered in an open ground area as a precautionary measure as the building collapsed.
The earthquake was initially measured at 8.2 magnitude by the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), which later revised its estimate, Reuters reported. Other monitoring agencies reported varying magnitudes, ranging from 7.0 to 7.8.
Police said a number of buildings and houses collapsed in the affected areas, while rescue operations remained underway.
"Many buildings were affected, but I cannot enumerate them now because we are busy with ongoing rescues. A number of buildings collapsed. Some houses also collapsed," Master Sergeant Robert Dagon of the General Santos City police said.
Tsunami warnings were issued by authorities in the Philippines and neighbouring Indonesia after the quake struck at a depth of around 10 kilometres. The US Tsunami Warning System also warned of a potential tsunami threat across parts of the Pacific region.
According to Philippine authorities, tsunami waves exceeding one metre were possible and could continue for several hours after the earthquake.
Officials reported damage to several structures, including a portion of a building in the southern city of General Santos that collapsed following the tremor.
Hospitals evacuated patients, while schools moved students to safer locations on what was the first day of classes in some areas, Bloomberg reported.
Benjie Ancheta, police chief of Alabel town in Sarangani province, told Reuters that the police station suffered cracks immediately after the quake.
"This is the strongest earthquake we've experienced," Ancheta said.
A magnitude 6.1 aftershock was recorded in the southern Philippines hours after 8.1 magnitude earthquake had jolted the country, according to the United States Geological Survey.
The Philippines lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire, one of the world's most seismically active regions, making the country highly vulnerable to earthquakes and volcanic activity.
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