A powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck off the southern Philippines on Friday morning, triggering tsunami warnings across the region and sending residents in coastal areas scrambling to higher ground.
The Philippines’ seismology agency, Phivolcs, said the quake hit waters off the town of Manay in Davao Oriental province, in the Mindanao region, at a depth of 23 kilometres. Initial readings had placed the magnitude at 7.6 before being revised down. Authorities warned of possible aftershocks and advised residents to remain cautious.
At least one person was killed, according to civil defence official Raffy Alejandro, who confirmed the death in a post on Facebook. Reports from local officials suggested initial damage to homes, bridges, and buildings near the epicentre.
“The quake was very strong — we couldn’t stand earlier,” said Richie Diuyen, a disaster management official in Manay. “I’m 46 years old now, and this is the strongest earthquake I’ve ever felt. The damage is quite big.”
Tsunami Alerts and Evacuations
Following the tremor, tsunami warnings were issued for several countries bordering the Pacific. The US Tsunami Warning System said hazardous waves could affect coastal areas within 300 kilometres of the epicentre, while Phivolcs advised people in low-lying areas to move inland or to higher ground.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre (PTWC) initially said waves of up to three metres were possible in parts of the Philippines, before updating around noon local time that the tsunami threat had passed. However, alerts remained active in neighbouring countries, including Indonesia and Palau.
Indonesia’s weather agency issued tsunami warnings for northern Sulawesi and Papua regions, while the PTWC noted that some coastal areas in Indonesia and Palau could experience waves of up to one metre.
Scenes of Panic and Damage
In Davao City, videos verified by Reuters showed office workers taking cover under desks as buildings creaked and shook. Other clips showed toppled cabinets, cracked walls, and people evacuating into open spaces.
Jonathan Dolotina, a radio operator in the coastal city of Mati, said there were no immediate reports of casualties there, but authorities were checking damage to a school building. In Banay-Banay, 10 kilometres away, disaster officer Sawsan Entrino told DZMM radio that classes had been suspended while safety inspections were underway.
Davao Oriental Governor Edwin Jubahib described scenes of panic as the quake struck. “Some buildings were reported to have been damaged,” he said. “It was very strong.”
Response and Government Action
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said authorities were still assessing the situation on the ground and that rescue teams would be deployed once it was safe to do so. “We are working round the clock to ensure that help reaches everyone who needs it,” Marcos said in a statement.
Phivolcs warned of potential aftershocks and advised residents to remain vigilant. The agency noted that the quake was one of the strongest to hit the Philippines in recent years. The archipelago sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” an area known for intense seismic and volcanic activity, experiencing more than 800 earthquakes annually. Friday’s quake came just two weeks after the country’s deadliest earthquake in over a decade — a 6.9 magnitude tremor on the island of Cebu that killed 74 people and caused widespread destruction. As of Friday afternoon, regional disaster agencies continued to assess the extent of damage, while engineers inspected bridges, schools, and key infrastructure across Davao Oriental and nearby provinces.
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