MALAYBALAY CITY (MindaNews / 2 December) – A magnitude 6.9 earthquake hit Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur at 10:37 p.

m. Saturday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said.

The tremor, which was tectonic in origin, had a depth of 8 kilometers with its epicenter located 42 km northeast of Hinatuan, Phivolcs said in its first advisory.

Intensity V was felt in Bislig City, Surigao del Sur and in Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte.

In another advisory, Phivolcs said that based on the local tsunami database, “it is expected to experience wave heights of more than one meter above the normal tides and may be higher on enclosed bays and straits. Destructive tsunami is expected with life threatening wave heights.

“

The agency forecast the first tsunami waves to arrive between 10:37 pm and 11:59 pm on Saturday and may continue for hours.

It “strongly advised” people in the coastal areas of Surigao del Sur and Davao Oriental to “immediately evacuate to higher grounds or move farther inland.” (MindaNews)