A powerful magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck the Mindanao region in the southern Philippines early on Monday, shaking the area and prompting tsunami warnings for coastal regions. The earthquake occurred at 7:37 a.m. local time, with its epicenter located 15.3 miles west-southwest of Burias and at a depth of 22 miles, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has warned that waves as high as 10 feet could impact some coasts of the Philippines, while Indonesia and Malaysia could see smaller waves of up to 3 feet. Additionally, smaller tsunamis may affect Taiwan, Japan, Guam, Papua New Guinea, and various island nations in the western Pacific. Residents in Indonesia's North Sulawesi and North Maluku provinces also reported feeling the tremors. The Philippines is known for being one of the world's most disaster-prone countries, frequently experiencing earthquakes and volcanic eruptions due to its position on the Pacific 'Ring of Fire,' which is characterized by numerous seismic faults. The archipelago is also affected by around 20 typhoons and tropical storms annually.