A powerful 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck near the coastal area of Manay in the southern Philippines, triggering an official tsunami warning and prompting mass evacuations from low-lying areas. Tremors sent panic through the capital city of Davao and surrounding regions, where residents rushed out of residential and commercial buildings. Schools were immediately closed, and hospital staff moved patients outdoors as a precautionary measure.
According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, the quake struck off the coast of Manay in Davao Oriental at a depth of 10 kilometers. The institute warned that tsunami waves up to one meter or higher could reach coastal areas and might rise further in enclosed bays and narrow waterways. Authorities urged coastal residents to evacuate to higher ground or inland areas without delay. So far, no casualties have been reported.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered evacuations in several coastal areas of the central and southern Philippines, announcing on Facebook that rescue and relief operations would begin as soon as conditions allowed. He urged residents to leave vulnerable areas immediately and to stay away from the coast until authorities declared it safe to return. The president assured that the government was working around the clock to deliver timely assistance to those in need.
This earthquake comes as the Philippines continues to reel from a series of recent natural disasters. In the past weeks, a 7.0 magnitude quake in Cebu province killed 74 people and injured over 500. Tropical Storm Bualoi devastated the central islands, causing 11 deaths and mass evacuations, while Super Typhoon Ragasa struck the northern province of Cagayan in September, causing widespread damage.
Elsewhere, a 6.1 magnitude quake was recorded in Papua New Guinea, and light tremors were also felt in parts of Indonesia, though no casualties were reported.
