Location: Mindanao, Southern Philippines

A powerful 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck offshore in the southern Philippines early Friday morning, prompting tsunami warnings across several coastal provinces and nearby countries. The quake was recorded in waters off Manay town, Davao Oriental, located in the Mindanao region, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS).

Earthquake Details and Location

PHIVOLCS initially recorded the quake at magnitude 7.6 before revising it down to 7.5, with a depth of approximately 20 kilometers (12 miles). The tremor struck around 8:05 AM local time, shaking buildings and sending residents fleeing from their homes and offices.

The U.S. Tsunami Warning System also issued an alert, warning of hazardous waves up to 1–3 meters high that could impact coastal areas within 300 kilometers (186 miles) of the epicenter.

Tsunami Warnings Across the Region

Authorities in Indonesia, Palau, and other nearby nations were also placed on alert for possible tsunami waves.
PHIVOLCS urged residents of coastal towns in Mindanao and parts of the central Philippines to immediately evacuate to higher ground or move inland, warning that wave surges could exceed one meter above normal tide levels.

“We advise all residents in coastal areas to move to higher ground and stay there until the tsunami warning is lifted,” PHIVOLCS Director Dr. Teresito Bacolcol said in a public advisory.

Early Impact and Rescue Operations

Local officials reported power outages and minor infrastructure damage in Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley, while communication lines were temporarily disrupted in some parts of Mindanao.
The Office of Civil Defense and NDRRMC (National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council) have mobilized teams to assess damage and coordinate response operations.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said authorities were “working round the clock” to ensure safety and deliver assistance where needed.

“Search and rescue teams will be deployed as soon as conditions allow,” Marcos said in an official statement.

The quake comes just two weeks after the Philippines experienced its deadliest earthquake in over a decade, when a 6.9 magnitude tremor struck Cebu Island, leaving 72 people dead and dozens injured.

The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) also measured Friday’s quake at magnitude 7.4 with a depth of 58 km (36 miles).