Powerful Earthquake Rocks Southern Philippines; Tsunami Warning Issued and Casualties Reported

A powerful earthquake struck the southern Philippines on Monday morning, causing widespread structural damage and triggering an immediate tsunami warning. According to official reports, the undersea tremor hit near the coastal area of General Santos City on Mindanao Island at 7:37 AM local time (5:22 AM Nepali time). Strong shocks were felt across various parts of the country, resulting in visible damage to houses, schools, and university buildings. Given the epicenter's proximity to the coast, authorities warned of severe structural risks and potential tsunami waves, urgently advising residents in affected coastal zones to evacuate to safer, higher ground. Initial assessments of the earthquake's intensity varied among global monitoring agencies. Reuters reported that the German Research Centre for Geosciences initially registered the quake at a massive 8.2 magnitude before later revising it, while other seismic institutions estimated the strength to be between 7.0 and 7.8 magnitude. According to news agency AFP, the disaster has claimed at least one life and left four others injured, with rescue and assessment operations still underway in the impacted regions.