Two strong underwater earthquakes were marked openly southern part of the Philippines on Friday, causing him death at least seven peoplewhile cities close to the focus were severely damaged, with the Authorities to warn of strong aftershocks.

The first earthquake of 7.4 degrees was marked off the coast of the city Manayin the province Davao Oriental, and caused a warning of tsunami On the coasts within 300 kilometers (186 miles) from the focus. The warnings for the Philippines and Indonesia were lifted a little later. A second earthquake, however, 6.8 degrees hit the same area seven hours later, causing a new tsunami warning. The country’s seismological service, Phivolcs, warned of possible sea waves of more than one meter above normal tide.

Residents of coastal areas in the southern part of the Philippines have been informed to be transported as soon as possible to higher points or moving deeper inland, the service said in a statement.

The director of PSIVOLCS, Teresito Bacolcol, described the two earthquakes as a “double event”, that is, two distinct earthquakes that occurred along a large ditch on the east coast of the country.

There have been initial reports of damage to houses, buildings and bridges, a manay official told Manay, although the full extent of the damage had not yet been disclosed.

The two earthquakes the strongest of the last few years

The two earthquakes are included in strongest in recent years that have hit the Philippines, A country on the Pacific “Ring of Fire” and records over 800 earthquakes each year.

The event came two weeks after the deadliest earthquake of the last decade in the Philippines, when 74 people were killed on the island of CEBU, after an underwater earthquake measuring 6.9 degrees.

Jumping vehicles, doors rings

A video posted On social media and verified by Reuters, it shows people in Davao being held by parked vehicles oscillating back and forth, while metal doors were ringing from vibration.

Disaster management official Richie Diuyen in Manay said the earthquake lasted 30 to 40 seconds and caused damage to houses and the facade of a church, as well as cracks on roads and damaged bridges. He said: “We couldn’t stand up. I am 46 years old and that was the most powerful earthquake I ever felt. “

Earlier, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. He said that the authorities are evaluating the situation and that search and rescue groups will be developed as soon as they are safe: “We are constantly working to ensure that the help will reach everyone who needs it,” he said in a statement.

Warning of strong aftershocks

PSIVOLCS warned of aftershocks and called on residents of the affected areas to stay away from the coast.

Verified videos from the southern part of the Philippines show workers to evacuate buildings and gathering on the streets, lamps hovering in shops and offices with upside -down wardrobes and employees being held by their offices as the structures around them were rubbed.

Pictures from Sulawesi island, Indonesia, show fishing boats returning to land and children playing on a beach from which the water had retreated. Phivolcs revised down the size of the first earthquake from 7.6 to 7.4 degrees, with a focal depth of 23 kilometers (14 miles). The second earthquake was also revised from 6.9 to 6.8 degrees, with a depth of 37 kilometers (23 miles).