At least 32 killed after 7.8 earthquake strikes Philippines, along the Pacific Ring of Fire, officials say

GENERAL SANTOS, PHILIPPINES — A powerful magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck just off the coast of the southern Philippines on Monday morning, triggering tsunami warnings across the region.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the earthquake struck off the island of Mindanao, about 15 miles west-southwest of Burias, Philippines, at 6:37 p.m. EST (7:37 a.m. PHST).

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At least 32 people have been killed and more than 100 injured, according to Reuters, citing local officials. Mindanao is the major island in the southern Philippines and home to more than 25 million people.

Several multistory buildings collapsed in General Santos, the closest major city to the epicenter. The government has mobilized disaster response teams. 

The earthquake had a depth of about 22 miles, a relatively shallow depth. According to the USGS, the initial earthquake was severe and had an estimated intensity of VIII on the Mercalli intensity scale, meaning the shaking was intense, felt by everyone in the area and caused widespread alarm among residents.

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The USGS reported aftershocks of magnitudes ranging from 6.5 to 4.0. Philippine disaster officials said more than 150 aftershocks had been recorded by Monday evening.

The Philippines is one of the most seismically active countries in the world due to its location on the active Pacific Ring of Fire — the massive, 25,000-mile ring of volcanoes and tectonic plate boundaries where 90 percent of the world's earthquakes occur.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines suspended all operations at General Santos City Airport, while Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos announced that classes were suspended in affected areas for the time being.

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The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center reported that tsunami waves up to 10 feet were possible along the coasts of the Philippines, while waves up to 3 feet were possible on some coasts of Indonesia and Malaysia.

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Additionally, Taiwan, Japan, Guam, Papua New Guinea and numerous nearby islands were placed under tsunami advisory. The advisories for Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands have since been lifted.

The USGS said there is no tsunami danger to the North American coast, including the U.S. and Canada, following the recent earthquake.

The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency also reported that there was no threat to the Hawaii coast following the earthquake.