A MASSIVE earthquake of magnitude 7.4 has rocked a southern island of the Philippines.
Thousands of people have been told to evacuate after authorities warned of a “destructive tsunami” in the aftermath of the quake.
EPADebris inside a government building following an earthquake in Manay, Philippines[/caption]
GettyStudents at Davao De Oro State College are evacuated to safety following the quake[/caption]
AFPA damaged church in Baganga, Davao Oriental[/caption]
The tsunami threat has now passed, according to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre.
One official in Manay said there were initial reports of damage to homes, buildings and bridges.
The governor of Davao Oriental province confirmed several buildings have been damaged.
Ferdinand Marcos, the Philippines’ president, said his government was working “round the clock” to help with the situation.
He said: “We are now assessing the situation on the ground and ensuring that everyone is safe.
“Search, rescue, and relief operations are already being prepared and will be deployed as soon as it is safe to do so.”
The quake was among the strongest in recent years to hit the Philippines, which sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire” and experiences more than 800 quakes each year.
The US Tsunami Warning System issued a tsunami threat immediately after the quake, saying hazardous waves were possible for coasts within 186 miles of the earthquake’s epicentre.
The earthquake came two weeks after the Philippines experienced its deadliest quake in more than a decade, with 74 people killed on the island of Cebu. That was a magnitude of 6.9 and also struck offshore.
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