Cagayan de Oro City felt a strong earthquake August 31, 2012

Update at 9:11 p.m. Aug. 31, 2012

• At about a quarter to 9 in the evening, citizens of Cagayan de Oro were shocked at the moving objects inside their residences, when an earthquake hit that city.
• More updates about the epicenter and magnitude once we have the information available.

Update at 9:18 p.m. Aug. 31, 2012

• 7.9 Magnitude was recorded throughout the Philippine Islands and in Japan.
• Tsunami alert raised.

Sources: CNN live news



Update at 9:22 p.m. Aug. 31, 2012

• Cagayan de Oro felt intensity 3.

Update at 9:24 p.m. Aug. 31, 2012 

An earthquake of magnitude 7.9 hit 139km east of Sulangan, Samar, 8:45 p.m. Philippine Time, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS).

The USGS summary placed the epicenter of the earthquake in the sea just off the coast of Samar.

Meanwhile, the US' National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued a tsunami warning for Indonesia and the Philippines immediately after the earthquake. — with Reuters/TJ Dimacali/VS, GMA News

Source: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/272070/news/nation/magnitude-7-9-strikes-off-phl-mdash-us-geological-survey

Update 9: 45 p.m. August 31, 2012

[Adm-02] A Tsunami Warning was issued after a 7.9-magnitude earthquake hit Eastern Samar a little past 8:30pm. Coastal areas facing the Pacific Ocean are immediately requested to evacuate. The following areas are:

1. Northern Samar
2. Eastern Samar
3. Leyte

4. Southern Leyte
5. Surigao Del Norte
6. Surigao Del Sur

Please help us spread this information. Thank you.

(Courtesy of DOST) 

Update 9: 55 p.m. August 31, 2012

Strong quake strikes near Philippines

By the CNN Wire Staff

August 31, 2012 -- Updated 1335 GMT (2135 HKT)

A preliminary 7.9-magnitude earthquake off the Philippines prompted a regional tsunami warning.

 (CNN) -- An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.9 has struck off the coast of the Philippines, the U.S. Geological Survey said Friday.

The quake prompted a tsunami warning for parts of Indonesia, the Philippines, Taiwan, Japan, Guam and other areas, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said.

"An earthquake of this size has the potential to generate a destructive tsunami that can strike coastlines near the epicenter within minutes and more distant coastlines within hours," the tsunami warning center said.

The quake, which was about 20 miles deep, struck just before 8:50 p.m., the agency said. Its center was about 65 miles southeast of the town of Guiuan, in the Philippine province of East Samar.

Ed Serrano, the head of security at the Marco Polo Hotel in the city of Davao, about 250 miles south of Guiuan, said he felt the ground shake.

"The quake was very strong and the hotel guests were panicking. Most of them went outside," he said. "But now the situation is under control and we are waiting for official reports on how strong the quake was."

There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.

Source: http://edition.cnn.com/2012/08/31/world/asia/philippines-earthquake/index.html

Update 11:01 p.m. August 31, 2012

• Pacific Tsunami Warning Center confirmed a small tsunami that hit Samar.
• Tsunami warning in Indonesia and Japan has been removed.
• Samar Island kept in dark due to broken electrical lines brought about by the earthquake.

Update 11:23 p.m. August 31, 2012

• Pacific Tsunami Warning Center confirmed a small tsunami that hit Legaspi and Davao.
• Aftershocks recorded near the epicenter. -USGS

Update 11:33 p.m. August 31, 2012

• Pacific Tsunami Warning Center removed all tsunami warnings around the Pacific Area.
• Unfortunately the PHILVOLCS has not removed the Tsunami Warning.

More updates later.