Powerful Earthquake Hits Vulnerable Philippines

Southeast Asia cannot catch a break. Just a few weeks after a pair of typhoons raged through the region, a powerful earthquake struck the Philippines early Friday. Here is the latest on this developing situation.

Latest Details on the Philippines Earthquake

At least one person has been confirmed dead after a 7.4-magnitude quake hit the southeastern coast of the Philippines on Friday morning. According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the quake happened at about 9:45 am local time. The event impacted the eastern side of Mindanao Island, located about 80 miles from the large metro area of Davao. The USGS said that the quake happened at a depth of 36 miles.

Local officials confirmed that one person died after being buried under the crumbling rubble in the province of Davao Oriental. While the U.S. Tsunami Warning system originally warned of the potential of tsunami conditions in the Philippines, Indonesia, and the nation of Palau, this threat has now passed.

A major 6.7 magnitude aftershock earthquake was recorded later in the evening by the USGS. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology also warned that the aftershocks are likely to continue for weeks.