On Friday morning, a powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck off the southern coast of the Philippines, resulting in the tragic deaths of at least two individuals. The earthquake caused significant damage to infrastructure, including a hospital and several schools, while also knocking out power and prompting urgent evacuations in coastal areas due to fears of a potential tsunami.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is currently assessing the damage from this latest natural disaster, which follows a series of devastating events, including a recent earthquake and consecutive storms. The President has stated that rescue teams and relief operations are being organized and will be deployed as soon as conditions allow. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) has warned residents to expect further damage and aftershocks in the aftermath of the quake, which was centered approximately 27 miles east of Manay town in Davao Oriental province at a depth of around 14 miles.
According to provincial Governor Nelson Dayanghirang Sr., the earthquake resulted in at least two fatalities when individuals were trapped in collapsed homes. In addition, about 250 patients from a damaged hospital were evacuated and will be temporarily housed in tents. Reports from the Office of Civil Defense deputy administrator Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV indicate that several buildings suffered structural damage, including an international airport in Davao City, which, despite sustaining cracks, remained operational without any flight cancellations.
Jun Saavedra, a disaster-mitigation officer in Gov. Generoso town, described his experience during the earthquake, stating, "I was driving my car when it suddenly swayed, and I saw power lines swaying wildly." He recounted how people rushed out of their homes and buildings as the ground shook and electricity went out. Saavedra noted that this earthquake was the most powerful he had experienced, causing significant cracks in various structures, including a high school where approximately 50 students were treated for injuries such as bruises and dizziness.
In the nearby city of Tagum, chaos erupted during a government event at city hall as people panicked and fled the building. Local officials reported seeing city workers scrambling down a 220-yard-high metal Christmas tree they were decorating when the quake struck. Witnesses across Davao City, which has a population of approximately 5.4 million and is located about 155 miles west of Davao Oriental province, described scenes of students and workers pouring out of schools, office buildings, and shopping malls in a rush to evacuate.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Honolulu initially reported small waves detected along the coasts of the Philippines and Indonesia but later lifted the tsunami warning about two hours after the quake. However, Alejandro cautioned that tsunami waves could still affect six nearby coastal provinces for up to two hours following the quake, urging coastal communities to remain vigilant and evacuate to higher ground until further notice.
This earthquake comes as the Philippines continues to recover from a devastating 6.9-magnitude earthquake that struck on September 30, which resulted in at least 74 deaths and displaced thousands in the central province of Cebu. The archipelago faces the challenge of responding to around 20 typhoons and storms each year, making disaster response a critical focus for both the government and volunteer organizations.
On the same day, a separate earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.0 was recorded off the coast of Papua New Guinea, centered in the Bismarck Sea, approximately 257 miles northeast of Lae, the nation’s second-most populous city. Fortunately, local authorities reported no damage from this event.
