A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck the southern Philippines early on Friday morning, triggering tsunami warnings across parts of Southeast Asia and leaving at least two people dead, officials confirmed.
The tremor hit at 9:43 a.m. local time (01:43 GMT) in waters off Manay town in Davao Oriental province, at a depth of approximately 23 kilometers, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs). Authorities warned that aftershocks were likely in the coming hours.
Tsunami Warnings and Regional Impact
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) initially cautioned of potential waves up to 3 meters high along parts of the Philippine coastline, but later declared that the immediate threat had passed.
However, tsunami alerts remained active in Indonesia and Palau, where waves of up to one meter were still possible. The U.S. Tsunami Warning System also noted that hazardous waves could occur within 300 kilometers of the quake’s epicenter.
Casualties and Damage Assessment Underway
Raffy Alejandro, a senior civil defense official, confirmed the first fatality and said authorities were continuing to assess reports of structural damage in areas closest to the epicenter.
“We are asking residents in coastal areas to remain alert until all warnings are lifted,” Alejandro said.
Local officials reported collapsed structures, damaged roads, and power outages across parts of Davao Oriental. In Manay, disaster officer Richie Diuyen described the quake as the strongest she had ever felt.
“We couldn’t stand earlier,” she told reporters by phone. “The damage is quite big.”
Government Response and Rescue Operations
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said search and rescue teams were on standby and would be deployed as soon as conditions allowed.
“We are working round the clock to ensure that help reaches everyone who needs it,” Marcos said in a statement.
Footage shared on social media from Davao City showed workers taking cover under desks as walls shook and furniture toppled. Local governments across nearby provinces have suspended classes and government office operations pending safety inspections.
Recent Seismic Activity
The quake’s epicenter was located roughly 62 kilometers southeast of Manay, making it one of the strongest earthquakes to hit the Philippines in recent years.
The country lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a highly active seismic zone responsible for frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
This latest quake comes just two weeks after a magnitude 6.9 earthquake in Cebu province killed at least 74 people and displaced thousands — the deadliest tremor in the Philippines in over a decade.
