A powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck offshore in the southern Philippines on October 10, prompting tsunami warnings in several regions. The quake occurred in the waters near Manay town in Davao Oriental, part of the Mindanao region, early in the morning. Authorities have confirmed one reported fatality and initial damage assessments indicate destruction to homes, buildings, and infrastructure.
Response and Aftermath
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) issued tsunami alerts urging residents in coastal areas to evacuate inland or to higher ground. The earthquake, which lasted 30 to 40 seconds, caused panic among the populace. Raffy Alejandro, a civil defense official, confirmed the death and warned of potential aftershocks.
Warnings and Measurements
- Initial tsunami threat waves were estimated at 1 to 3 meters.
- The U.S. Tsunami Warning System warned of hazardous waves within a 300 km radius of the epicenter.
- The earthquake’s depth was measured at 23 km (14.3 miles).
As the situation developed, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center later informed that the immediate tsunami threat in the Philippines had passed, but warnings for Indonesia and the Pacific island nation of Palau remained active. They predicted possible wave heights of up to 1 meter in these regions.
Locals React to Quake
Witness accounts depicted the intense nature of the quake. Jonathan Dolotina, a radio operator in Mati, mentioned no immediate casualties were reported. However, inspections of damaged buildings, including a school, were underway. Edwin Jubahib, the governor of Davao del Norte, noted strong tremors and the subsequent structural damage in various buildings.
Historical Context
This earthquake occurred just two weeks after the Philippines’ deadliest quake in more than a decade. That earlier tremor was a magnitude 6.9 earthquake that resulted in 74 fatalities on the island of Cebu. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. assured that search and rescue teams were being mobilized once it was safe to proceed.
As the country continues to assess the earthquake’s impact, officials emphasize the need for preparedness. With the Philippines situated on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” earthquakes are frequent, averaging over 800 occurrences annually.
