Powerful 7.2 magnitude earthquake tears through Philippines with residents told to be prepared for aftershocks

A massive 7.2 magnitude earthquake rocked the southern Mindanao region of the Philippines today, raising fears of devastation in the region.

The earthquake struck the coast of the Mindanao region at a depth of 10 km, the German Research Center for Geosciences said. Shallow earthquakes are more likely to cause damage to the Earth’s surface.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said no tsunami was expected.

There were no immediate reports of casualties, but the earthquake was felt across much of the mountainous island. Mindanao is the second largest island in the Philippines and is home to approximately 26 million people.

The Philippine Seismological Agency said the earthquake lasted several seconds and advised residents to be alert for aftershocks and damage.

Radio announcer Leny Aranego of General Santos city in South Cotabato said the strong earthquake damaged walls and toppled some agency computers.

“We saw the walls crack and computers fall,” Aranego told radio station DZRH.

Passengers at an airport in General Santos City were evacuated to the tarmac, said Michael Ricafort, who was about to board a plane to Manila when the earthquake struck.

“I think it was the strongest earthquake I’ve ever experienced,” Keeshia Leyran, 27, told AFP news agency from Davao City, about 200 kilometers from the epicenter.

‘People around me panicked and ran outside.

There are hundreds of people here at the event, so to be honest I was more afraid of a stampede.”

The Philippines lies on the ‘Ring of Fire’, a belt of volcanoes around the Pacific Ocean that is prone to seismic activity.

This is a breaking news story. More to follow…