At least one person lost their life, and four others sustained injuries in a powerful magnitude-7.4 earthquake that rocked the southern Philippines. The quake, centered off Hinatuan town in Surigao Del Sur province, raised fears of a "life-threatening" tsunami, prompting coastal warnings. Fortunately, waves remained below 1 meter, and the tsunami alert was lifted five hours after the earthquake. The region is grappling with over 500 aftershocks, the strongest registering at a magnitude of 6.1. The Philippines, situated on the Pacific Ring of Fire, faces frequent seismic activity, with a tragic history, such as the devastating 1990 earthquake that claimed over 2,400 lives on Luzon island.
