Manila, October 10(HS): A powerful earthquake measuring 7.4 on the Richter scale struck off the southern Philippines on Friday morning, triggering widespread tremors and initial tsunami warnings across coastal areas. Authorities later confirmed that the threat of a destructive tsunami had passed for the Philippines and nearby Indonesia.
According to the U.S.-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, earlier forecasts indicated waves of up to three metres could hit the Philippine coastline, while smaller waves were expected in Indonesia and Palau. However, the alert was withdrawn after no significant sea-level changes were recorded.In the Philippines, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered immediate evacuations in vulnerable coastal regions of Mindanao and Visayas.
“We are working round the clock to ensure that help reaches everyone who needs it,” he said, urging residents to move to higher ground until further clearance from authorities.
Local officials confirmed the first fatality in Mati City of Davao Oriental, where a 54-year-old woman died after a fence collapsed during the tremors. Mati City official Charlemagne Bagasol reported “no major damage” beyond cracks on some roads and buildings.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) initially placed the quake at magnitude 7.5, while international agencies measured it at 7.4. The quake’s epicentre was located off Mindanao’s eastern coast, sending shockwaves felt as far as the central regions.
Aftershocks with magnitudes between 2.6 and 4.9 were reported throughout the morning.Photographs from Davao City — one of Mindanao’s largest urban centres — showed chaotic scenes as hospitals and shopping malls evacuated occupants.
Patients were treated in open areas outside the Southern Philippines Medical Center following the tremors. The Davao regional government placed the area under “Red Alert,” the country’s highest emergency response level, ensuring full mobilization of military, police, and rescue forces.
In Davao Oriental, power disruptions and intermittent internet connectivity were reported, while emergency teams worked to relocate residents near the coast. Iloilo City in central Philippines suspended classes and closed city offices for safety inspections.
Across the border, Indonesia’s northern islands also felt the impact. Light tremors were reported in North Sulawesi and the Talaud Islands, where schools were closed and residents advised to stay alert. Indonesian officials confirmed only minor tsunami activity, with waves measured between 3.5 cm and 17 cm.
No damage or casualties were reported.The Philippines, located on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” frequently experiences strong earthquakes and volcanic activity. The latest quake follows a string of natural disasters in recent weeks — including a deadly 7.0-magnitude event in Cebu that claimed 74 lives and Typhoon Ragasa’s devastating landfall in northern Luzon in September.
Authorities urged the public to remain cautious amid continuing aftershocks, even as the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center officially declared that the tsunami threat had subsided.
Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
