On Friday, October 10, two strong earthquake hit the southern Philippines within hours from the sea. It shook villages all throughout Mindanao and forced people to leave the coast. Tsunami officials later claimed the immediate threat had gone.
The quake hit at 9:43 a.m. local time off Manay town in Davao Oriental. It was initially measured at magnitude 7.6 at a shallow depth by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, which warned of possible waves over one meter and urged residents along eastern and southern coasts to move to higher ground, according to PHIVOLCS.
The second strong earthquake had a preliminary measured at magnitude 6.9. The Philippine Institute of Seismology and Volcanology reported that the movement happened along the same fault line, the Philippine Trench, 10 kilometers (6 miles) off the coast of Manay town in Davao Oriental province.
Tsunami forecasters warned of hazardous waves for shorelines within 300 kilometers of the epicenter and said 1–3 meter waves were possible in the Philippines, with smaller waves expected in parts of Indonesia and Palau, according to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.
Around midday in the Philippines, the tsunami agency said the threat there had passed after small sea-level changes were observed, though minor fluctuations could continue.
Local officials reported panic and damage to buildings as strong shaking was felt across Davao Region. At least two deaths were confirmed in Davao Oriental as assessments began, according to Reuters.
Separate tallies were still being compiled as authorities surveyed landslides, cracked structures, and power interruptions. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said emergency teams were mobilized for search, rescue, and relief operations, according to AP.
The U.S. West Coast and Alaska remained outside any tsunami danger from the event, according to the U.S. Tsunami Warning System.
Preliminary magnitudes varied across agencies as data were refined Friday, with some readings later revised to 7.4–7.5. Aftershocks are likely. The Philippines, which sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, routinely experiences strong earthquakes. This temblor came less than two weeks after a deadly offshore quake near Cebu that killed dozens, according to Reuters.
Authorities told people to follow local advice about going back to the seaside, expect aftershocks, and stay away from buildings that have been damaged while inspections are still going on.
A global media for the latest news, entertainment, music fashion, and more.
