At Least Seven Killed in Two Earthquakes Off Coast of Philippines

Manila, October 10 (QNA) - At least seven people were killed Friday by two powerful earthquakes off the coast of the southern Philippines, amid warnings of strong aftershocks and a tsunami. The first earthquake, measuring 7.4 on the Richter scale, struck in the waters off the town of Manai in Davao Oriental province and triggered a tsunami warning for coasts within 300 kilometers of the epicenter. However, the warnings in the Philippines and Indonesia were later lifted. A second earthquake, measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale, struck in the same area seven hours later, triggering a new tsunami warning. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) warned of the possibility of tsunami waves exceeding one meter above normal tide level. The institute advised residents living in coastal areas in the southern Philippines to evacuate to higher ground or move inland. These two earthquakes are among the strongest to hit the Philippines in recent years. The Philippines is located in the so-called "Ring of Fire" in the Pacific Ocean and experiences more than 800 earthquakes each year. (QNA)