Davao Hit by 7.4-Magnitude Earthquake, South Philippines Shocked; Tsunami Warning Issued Along Coast, Residents Evacuated

(Manila, 10th) — A strong 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck Davao Oriental province in southern Philippines this morning. The powerful quake caused intense shaking across much of Mindanao and prompted authorities to issue a tsunami warning, requiring coastal residents to evacuate urgently. President “Bongbong” Marcos has already ordered all relevant government agencies to comprehensively launch rescue operations and disaster assessment.

According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), the earthquake occurred at 9:43am today, with the epicenter about 44 kilometers northeast of Manay town in Davao Oriental province, and at a depth of about 23 kilometers. It was a tectonic earthquake.

Davao City recorded an intensity V (Intensity 5), while Bislig City in Surigao del Sur reported intensity IV (Intensity 4). Across Mindanao Island and adjacent areas, including Southern Leyte, Cotabato Province, Sarangani, and South Cotabato, instrumental intensity was also between four and five.

Tsunami Warning Temporarily Issued

After the earthquake, Phivolcs immediately issued a warning for a potentially destructive tsunami, advising residents of coastal provinces—Eastern Samar, Southern Leyte, Leyte, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, and Davao Oriental—to swiftly evacuate to higher ground or inland areas.

During the alert, the Tandag sea level monitoring station in Surigao del Sur recorded waves approximately 30 centimeters high. At 1:43pm, Phivolcs announced the tsunami threat had been lifted.

One Dead, Multiple Buildings Damaged

According to the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), initial reports from the Davao region included one fatality, suspected to be the result of a falling object; this is currently pending verification. Multiple buildings in Davao City were damaged, including Ateneo de Davao University and Mapua Malayan Colleges, both of which developed cracks. Light cracks were also found at Bangoy International Airport, but the airport remains operational and flights have not been affected.

In Northern Mindanao (Region 10), minor cracks were reported in some school buildings, and there was a small-scale landslide near Camiguin Island.

In a statement, President Marcos said that the government is closely monitoring the disaster situation and has directed the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), Office of Civil Defense (OCD), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), among other agencies, to immediately activate coastal evacuation, emergency communications, and search and rescue mechanisms.

“All departments are preparing to launch rescue and relief operations. The Department of Social Welfare and Development has deployed food and supplies, and the Department of Health is on standby to provide emergency medical aid,” he said, also urging the public to stay away from the coast and follow instructions from local disaster management units, emphasizing that “the safety of the people is the government’s top priority.”

Marcos also called for mutual care among Filipinos and collective prayers for the safety of the affected areas. He stated the government will “work round the clock” to ensure aid reaches those in need as quickly as possible.

This earthquake is one of the strongest in the Mindanao area in recent years. Although, fortunately, it did not cause a large-scale disaster, it again serves as a reminder that the Philippines, situated on the Pacific Ring of Fire, must not neglect the importance of disaster awareness and emergency preparedness.