A powerful offshore earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.6 rattled the southern Philippines early Friday, raising fears of a hazardous tsunami and potential widespread damage in a nation already reeling from recent disasters.
The quake, centered at sea about 62 kilometers (38 miles) southeast of Manay town in Davao Oriental province, struck at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers (6 miles), the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology reported. Officials warned of possible structural damage and aftershocks as the fault movement sent tremors rippling through the region.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Honolulu quickly issued alerts, saying hazardous waves could reach within 300 kilometers (186 miles) of the epicenter. In the Philippines, surges up to 3 meters (10 feet) above normal tides were possible along nearby coasts, with smaller waves potentially lapping shores in parts of Indonesia and Palau.
No immediate casualties or major damage were reported, but evacuations were underway in coastal communities as authorities urged residents to move to higher ground. “This is a serious event,” said PHIVOLCS director Teresito Bacolcol in a statement. “We are monitoring closely and advising preparedness for both the quake’s effects and any tsunami activity.”
The temblor comes just 10 days after a magnitude 6.9 earthquake devastated central Cebu province on Sept. 30, killing at least 74 people and displacing thousands, particularly in Bogo city and surrounding towns. Rescue teams are still sifting through rubble there, and the fresh quake has stretched the archipelago’s already strained emergency resources.
Straddling the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” the Philippines endures frequent seismic and volcanic upheavals due to colliding tectonic plates encircling the ocean basin. The nation of more than 110 million people also braces for about 20 typhoons and storms annually, turning disaster management into a relentless national priority for government agencies and volunteer networks.
In Davao Oriental, local officials activated tsunami sirens and opened evacuation centers, while the national disaster agency coordinated with the military for rapid response teams. Schools and businesses shuttered in the province as families huddled in open areas, sharing stories of past quakes that reshaped their lives.
Experts say the shallow depth of Friday’s quake amplifies its destructive potential, capable of shaking buildings far from the epicenter. “It’s a reminder of our vulnerability,” said geologist Mahar Lagmay of the University of the Philippines. “But our people are resilient — we’ve built systems to respond, even as the earth keeps testing us.”
As aftershocks rumbled into the afternoon, the focus shifted to damage assessments and wave monitoring. The tsunami warning remained in effect, a stark alert for a country where nature’s fury has long defined the rhythm of daily life.
