A powerful magnitude-7.8 earthquake struck off the coast of Mindanao island in the southern Philippines on Monday, killing at least 19 people, according to officials. The quake occurred at 07:37 local time (23:37 GMT Sunday), triggering tsunami alerts across the region.

Videos and images showed buildings collapsing, including a Jollibee fast food restaurant reduced to rubble. At least 134 people were reportedly injured across several provinces, though the national disaster agency has yet to verify these numbers.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. stated that agencies are coordinating disaster response, promising that the national government is moving and will not leave Mindanao behind. He also ordered the suspension of classes in affected areas.

More than 130 aftershocks, ranging from magnitude 1.3 to 6.7, were recorded. In Sarangani province, power and communication networks were temporarily down but later restored.

Tsunami warnings were issued for the Philippines, Indonesia, Japan, and Australia. A wave of a few centimeters was observed in Okinawa, Japan, while a 20cm wave was detected in the Ogasawara Islands. Waves up to 1.4 meters were recorded along coasts of Indonesia, Palau, and the Philippines.

Earthquakes are common in the Philippines, which lies on the Pacific Ring of Fire. Last September, a magnitude-6.9 quake in the Visayas region killed over 70 people.

Source: www.bbc.com