Powerful 7.4-magnitude quake hits southern Philippines; tsunami warnings briefly issued
A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck off the southern Philippines on 10 October, killing at least two people and prompting tsunami warnings across Southeast Asia before they were lifted. Authorities continue to warn of aftershocks and ongoing structural risks.
- A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck off Mindanao, southern Philippines, on 10 October.
- Tsunami warnings were issued and later lifted after initial alerts across Southeast Asia.
- At least two people were killed and several structures damaged in Davao Oriental province.
PHILIPPINES — A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck off the southern Philippines on Friday morning (10 Oct), triggering tsunami warnings across several countries and leaving at least two people dead in Davao Oriental province, according to Philippine and international authorities.
Panic in Mindanao as Residents Flee to Higher Ground
The quake, which struck offshore near the town of Manay in the Mindanao region, caused widespread panic as residents rushed to higher ground following warnings from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).
The agency initially recorded the tremor at magnitude 7.6 before revising it to 7.4.
Tsunami Warnings Issued, Then Lifted
According to Reuters, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) initially cautioned that waves between one and three metres were possible along coastal areas but later announced that the tsunami threat in the Philippines had passed.
Despite the all-clear, authorities urged vigilance due to possible aftershocks.
Fatalities and Structural Damage Reported
Civil defence officials confirmed fatalities and structural damage in several towns.
The New York Times reported that a 64-year-old woman was killed after a wall collapsed in Mati City, citing Ednar Dayanghirang, regional director of the Office of Civil Defense for Davao.
Another fatality was confirmed in a separate incident involving a collapsed house in the province, Governor Nelson Dayanghirang told local television.
Hospitals and Homes Affected
In Lupon, a residential building collapsed but caused no casualties, while a hospital in Manay was evacuated after its foundation was compromised by the quake, according to provincial officials.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said authorities were closely monitoring the situation and coordinating relief operations. “We are working round the clock to ensure that help reaches everyone who needs it,” Marcos said in a statement on Friday.
Regional Tsunami Alerts Across Southeast Asia
The U.S. Tsunami Warning System also issued an alert immediately after the quake, warning that hazardous waves could impact coasts within 300 kilometres of the epicentre.
In neighbouring Indonesia, the national disaster agency raised tsunami warnings for its northern Sulawesi and Papua regions, while the PTWC said small waves could reach as far as Palau.
Phivolcs warned that aftershocks were likely in the coming days, urging residents in affected areas to remain cautious and avoid damaged structures.
Among the Strongest Quakes in Recent Years
Friday’s tremor was among the most powerful to strike the Philippines in recent years.
The country, located along the seismically active Pacific “Ring of Fire,” experiences hundreds of earthquakes annually.
The latest quake came just two weeks after a deadly 6.9-magnitude tremor off Cebu island killed at least 74 people — the country’s deadliest in more than a decade.
