A strong 7.5 magnitude earthquake hit Davao City in the southern Philippines early Friday morning, causing widespread panic as residents rushed to safety. Schools and colleges in the Davao region temporarily closed.
Local media initially reported the quake at 7.6 magnitude, but the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) later confirmed it as 7.5, with its epicenter about 20 kilometers deep off the coast. Authorities issued a tsunami warning, which later lifted. Tremors were felt in Davao City and several nearby towns in the Mindanao region.
Reuters reported that it was 7.4 magnitude.
Richie Diuyen, a disaster official in Manay, said the quake lasted 30 to 40 seconds. And damaged some homes and the facade of a church, while leaving cracked roads and unpassable bridges.
“We couldn’t stand earlier. I am 46 years old now, and this strongest earthquake I ever felt,” Diuyen said by phone.
Earlier, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said authorities were assessing the situation and search-and-rescue teams would fan out once it was safe.
“We are working round the clock to ensure that help reaches everyone who needs it,” he said in a statement.
Governor Edwin Jubahid reported significant damage to buildings due to the intense shaking, along with confirmed casualties. President Ferdinand Marcos announced that rescue and relief operations have begun, with orders issued to the military, coast guard, and emergency services to evacuate coastal residents to safety.
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Marcos emphasized the government’s commitment to delivering aid swiftly. Earlier this month, a 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck the country, claiming at least 69 lives.
In neighboring Indonesia, a precautionary alert issued for northern Sulawesi and Papua. The country’s meteorology and geophysics agency urged citizens to remain calm and stay safe.
