Deadly 7.4-Magnitude Quake Rocks Southern Philippines, Triggers Tsunami Alerts

 

People gather in an open area following an earthquake of magnitude 7.5 that struck offshore in the southern Philippines, in Davao City, Mindanao, Philippines, October 10, 2025.

A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of southern Philippines on Friday morning, shaking large parts of Mindanao and prompting widespread tsunami warnings across the region. The quake, centered near Manay town in Davao Oriental, was caused by movement along the Philippine Trench at a depth of about 23 kilometers.

Authorities confirmed multiple fatalities and injuries, with reports of landslides, collapsed buildings, and damaged hospitals and schools. In Mati City, residents fled into the streets as debris fell, while in Pantukan town, a landslide buried villagers, leaving casualties and survivors rescued by emergency teams.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center initially warned of waves up to 3 meters high, leading to evacuations in at least six coastal provinces. Small tsunami waves were later detected in the Philippines and Indonesia, but the threat was lifted within hours.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. assured the public that rescue and relief operations were being prepared and would be deployed once conditions were safe. Meanwhile, classes and government work were suspended in several provinces as aftershocks continued to rattle the region.

The Philippines, located on the volatile Pacific “Ring of Fire”, experiences frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity. This latest disaster comes just weeks after another deadly quake struck Cebu, underscoring the country’s vulnerability to natural calamities.