Scary earthquake shakes Philippines and sets off tsunami alarm

December 29, 2018 | by Rodolfo Vieira

A massive 7.2 magnitude earthquake rocked the Philippines, causing its residents to fear for their lives.

The earthquake hit Mindanao, in the southern part of the country, as well as all coasts within 300 km of the affected area.

In a video being shared online, one can see how scary it must have been for people, with objects falling to the ground and the walls violently shaking around them.

Powerful earthquake off Philippines prompts panic, tsunami warning https://t.co/68Wu8fpWyt pic.twitter.com/naj1N1h2TP
— CBS News (@CBSNews) December 29, 2018

A TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE

In the footage, a store owner, who is yet to be identified, can be seen urging a customer to join her behind the counter and protecting their heads under it.

Meanwhile, several objects, including bottles, can be seen falling and getting smashed, with some of them landing right on top of the two scared women.

"There is currently no tsunami threat regarding Australia."

A 7.0 Magnitude Earthquake Was Recorded Off The Coast of The Southern Philippines This Morning.
A Tsunami Warning Has Been Issued. The Coasts of Indonesia, The Philippines & Palau May See Waves About Foot Above Tide Levels.#Earthquake #Tsunami pic.twitter.com/ihxnPPZH04
— ∼Marietta (@_MariettaDavis) December 29, 2018

THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION

The earthquake led the authorities to issue a tsunami warning, with the islands of Davao, in the Philippines, and Geme and Tabukan Tengah, in Indonesia, being the most likely to experience the damaging waves.

According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, people should stay away from beaches and the coast fronting the Philippine Sea between 12 and 2 p.m.

Tsunami warning for Mindanao from PHIVOLCS. 🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/MRr9uERDia
— Korte Supremo 👨🏻‍⚖️ (@KorteSupremo_) December 29, 2018

Although the waves are expected to arrive within that schedule, they could last for several hours so it is best to avoid coastal regions as much as possible.

There is currently no tsunami threat regarding Australia, and Indonesia hasn't suffered any damage, at least when it comes to this particular natural event.

JUST IN: A 7.2 #earthquake has struck off the coast of the Philippines. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center says there is a #tsunami risk within 300km of the epicenter including the Philippines and Indonesia. pic.twitter.com/Qbl6YykZg6
— Nick Stewart (@NStewCBS2) December 29, 2018

A WEEK EARLIER

Last Saturday, on December 22, 2018, 400 people lost their lives after a tsunami, caused by the eruption of a volcano known as Anak Krakatau, hit the Sunda Strait region.

AFTERMATH: Ruined structures line the road of a town in Indonesia devastated by a tsunami that has left scores dead, and hundreds injured across the region. https://t.co/WJSrYybkGk pic.twitter.com/88HOCvktk9
— Tradercliq (@tradercliq) December 23, 2018

Hundreds of houses, buildings and vehicles were swept away and destroyed, leaving residents homeless and without their possessions