At least 15 killed & 200 injured as huge 7.8 magnitude earthquake strikes the Philippines and triggers tsunami

AT LEAST 15 people have been killed after a major 7.8 magnitude earthquake rocked the Philippines – with tsunami waves smashing the southern coast. The horror quake has left more than 200 people injured, damaging buildings and triggering a tsunami warning across the island of Mindanao. It struck at a depth of 34 miles at 7.37am local time on Monday morning, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). Residents were warned that large waves nearly 10ft high were possible across the archipelago’s southern coast, while nearby Malaysia might see swells of up to 3ft. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. urged people to seek higher ground in tsunami-prone areas. He said: “Do not wait. Your life is more important than anything left behind.” The quake was the strongest to hit the Philippines this year and struck around 65 miles southwest of General Santos City, a major commerce hub of more than 700,000 people. Marcos Jr. later said disaster-response teams were on standby and declared that the government “will not leave Mindanao behind”. Shocking images from the aftermath show a collapsed Jollibee restaurant in General Santos City show, damaged homes and emergency response teams flooding the region. A police chief in the nearby town of Alabel said their station showed cracks immediately after the quake, which happened during a flag-raising ceremony. Most read in The Sun “This is the strongest earthquake we’ve experienced,” said chief Benjie Ancheta. The major quake had triggered around 138 aftershocks as of 11am local time, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. The magnitudes of these aftershocks range from 1.3 to 6.7. Meanwhile, several waves were observed hitting Mindanao between 7.42 and 8.45 local time. The highest recorded wave measured at 4.6ft. Tsunami warnings remain in place across the region. Emergency rescue operations have meanwhile been launched in the worst-hit areas. “Many buildings were affected, but I cannot enumerate them now because we are busy with ongoing rescues,” Sgt Robert Dagon of the General Santos City police said. “A number of buildings collapsed. Some houses also collapsed.” Officials fear that the death toll will continue to increase as communication is reestablished between towns. More to follow… For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online Thesun.co.uk is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thesun and follow us on TikTok @TheSun.