A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.4 struck off the southern coast of the Philippines on Friday morning, causing at least two fatalities, damaging critical infrastructure including a hospital and several schools, disrupting the power supply, and triggering evacuations along nearby coastal regions due to tsunami concerns.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is confronting yet another natural disaster following a previous devastating earthquake and consecutive storms. He stated that authorities are currently evaluating the extent of the damage, with rescue teams and relief operations on standby to be mobilized as soon as conditions allow.
According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, damage and aftershocks are anticipated from the quake, which originated beneath the ocean about 27 miles east of the town of Manay in the Davao Oriental province. The earthquake resulted from tectonic movements along the Philippine Trench at a depth of approximately 14 miles. Although an initial tsunami warning was issued, it was later rescinded.
At least two people lost their lives after being trapped in collapsed residential buildings in Davao Oriental, provincial Governor Nelson Dayanghirang Sr. reported to ABS-CBN News Channel. Additionally, around 250 patients had to be evacuated from a hospital damaged by the quake, where they are now temporarily sheltered in tents.
Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV, deputy administrator of the Office of Civil Defense, confirmed that several structures, including walls of various buildings and an international airport in Davao City, suffered cracks. Despite the damage, the airport remains operational and no flights have been canceled.
Jun Saavedra, a disaster mitigation officer from Gov. Generoso town in Davao Oriental, described the intense shaking he experienced while driving, noting how power lines swayed violently and residents rushed out of homes and workplaces as the earth trembled and electricity was cut off. He said this was the strongest earthquake they had encountered in the area, causing structural cracks in buildings, including a high school where roughly 50 students were taken by ambulance to a hospital after suffering minor injuries such as bruises, dizziness, or fainting.
Gov. Generoso is situated about 62 miles south of Manay, where all school classes were suspended due to the quake.
In Tagum City, located northwest of Manay, local official Wes Caasi recounted to AFP that a government event at city hall descended into chaos as panic spread and attendees screamed and fled. Caasi also witnessed workers precariously climbing down a 202-meter (roughly 220-yard) tall metal Christmas tree they had been decorating when the earthquake struck. Other eyewitnesses reported students and employees flooding out of schools, offices, and shopping centers.
In Davao City, which houses roughly 5.4 million people and lies about 155 miles west of the quake’s epicenter, children were evacuated from schools as a precaution.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Honolulu detected small waves along the coasts of the Philippines and Indonesia, but the tsunami threat dissipated approximately two hours after the quake. They noted that minor sea level fluctuations could persist.
Alejandro issued a warning that tsunami waves might impact six coastal provinces from Davao Oriental, urging residents to immediately move to higher ground until further notice. His message, delivered in a video briefing, underscored the urgency of preparedness in these vulnerable areas.
Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency reported small tsunami waves in North Sulawesi province, with heights ranging from 1.3 to 6.7 inches measured in several districts of the Talaud Islands.
Notably, the Philippines is still recuperating from a magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck on September 30, which claimed at least 74 lives and displaced thousands in the central province of Cebu, particularly in Bogo City and nearby towns.
This situation highlights how the Philippine archipelago regularly faces natural challenges, enduring around 20 typhoons and storms annually, making disaster management a critical and ongoing responsibility for government agencies and volunteers.
In a related event, a separate earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.0 took place off the coast of Papua New Guinea on Friday. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, it was centered in the Bismarck Sea, approximately 257 miles northeast of Lae, the country’s second-largest city. Lae police official Mary Jane Huafilong reported no damage from this earthquake.
But here’s where it gets controversial: given the frequent and severe natural disasters affecting regions like the Philippines, are current disaster preparedness and response strategies sufficient? How should governments balance immediate emergency relief with long-term infrastructure resilience? Share your thoughts—do you believe enough is being done, or is this a ticking time bomb that demands greater attention and resources?
