A MAGNITUDE 7.4 earthquake struck Manay, Davao Oriental on Friday morning, prompting a tsunami warning for several coastal provinces in the Philippines, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS).
The earthquake, initially reported as magnitude 7.6 before being downgraded to 7.4, occurred at 9:43 a.m. at a depth of 20 kilometers.
PHIVOLCS warned of expected damage and aftershocks. The earthquake was felt with the following intensities:
- Intensity V – City of Davao
- Intensity IV – City of Bislig, Surigao del Sur
Instrumental intensities, which measure the strength of the earthquake based on accelerometer readings, were even higher in some areas.
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. stated that the government is mobilizing efforts to ensure the safety of those affected.
PHIVOLCS issued a tsunami warning, strongly advising people in coastal areas of Eastern Samar, Dinagat Islands, Davao Oriental, Southern Leyte, Surigao Del Norte, Leyte, and Surigao Del Sur to immediately evacuate to higher ground or move farther inland. The agency warned that a destructive tsunami with life-threatening wave heights was expected, with the first waves forecasted to arrive between 9:43:54 a.m. and 11:43:54 a.m. PST.
Indonesia also issued a tsunami warning for northern Sulawesi following the quake.
Local governments in the Davao Region have suspended classes and government work to allow for damage assessments.
The Davao Oriental earthquake comes as the Philippines is still recovering from a magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck Bogo City, Cebu, on September 30, 2025, which resulted in 74 deaths and widespread damage.
