Mindanao earthquake triggers tsunami alerts across Southeast Asia

An earthquake of magnitude 8.2 struck offshore the island of Mindanao on Sunday at about 07:40 local time (23:40 GMT), according to the United States Geological Survey. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami alert for the region, warning of waves up to three metres along parts of the Philippines and up to one metre in parts of Indonesia and Malaysia.

Authorities in the Philippines, Indonesia and Japan warned coastal residents to evacuate to higher ground. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) urged people in nine provinces – including Sarangani, Davao Occidental, Tawi‑tawi and Sulu – to move inland, and advised boat owners to keep vessels away from shallow waters. No major damage or casualties have been reported so far, but monitoring continues as aftershocks are expected.

The alert also prompted precautionary measures in nearby territories such as Palau and Papua New Guinea, underscoring the broader regional vulnerability to tsunami hazards in the Pacific Ring of Fire.