Several dozen earthquakes with magnitudes up to 7.4 occurred near the Philippines: People were evacuated due to tsunami threat
On December 2 and 3, a series of powerful earthquakes were recorded near the Philippines, one of which reached a dangerous magnitude of 7.4. The country announced the threat of a tsunami, which was caused by aftershocks off the southern coast.
According to the website of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, more than 30 earthquakes have been observed in the country in the past, but the vast majority of them were invisible to people, which is typical for this region.
Powerful tremors began in the late afternoon of December 2 and continued to terrorize the country at night. The darkness did not stop the frightened people from evacuating the villages of the coastal zone.
The most powerful earthquake occurred at 22:37 on December 2 at a depth of 32 kilometres. So far, there have been no reports of serious damage or casualties, but Filipinos have been warned of approaching waves as high as human height.
Dr. Teresito C. Bacolcol, head of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, advised residents along the coast of the southern provinces of Surigao del Sur and Davao Oriental to immediately evacuate to higher ground or move further inland and wait out the tsunami.
The Japanese government also issued evacuation orders in various parts of Okinawa Prefecture, including the entire coastal zone. Thousands of people were forced to leave their homes.
Meanwhile, videos that were allegedly shot in the Philippines began to appear on the Internet. They show people running away from buildings, holding onto walls, and chaotically fleeing the earthquake. However, this is not the first time the country has been shaken, so it is almost impossible to determine the time reference.