MANILA — A magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck offshore in the southern Philippines early Friday, triggering tsunami warnings across the region and prompting residents in coastal areas to flee to higher ground. According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), the quake struck off the coast of Manay town in Davao Oriental, at a depth of about 20 kilometers (12 miles). The agency initially recorded the tremor at 7.6 magnitude before revising it down slightly to 7.5.
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Authorities warned of aftershocks and possible damage, while the US Tsunami Warning System said hazardous waves could affect coastal areas within 300 kilometers (186 miles) of the epicenter. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said in a statement that officials were assessing the situation on the ground and preparing search-and-rescue operations once it was safe. “We are working round the clock to ensure that help reaches everyone who needs it,” Marcos said.
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Local reports from Davao Oriental indicated that several buildings sustained damage and that residents panicked as the quake struck. “It was very strong,” Governor Edwin Jubahib told Philippine broadcaster DZMM. Phivolcs urged people living near coastal areas in the central and southern Philippines to move to higher ground immediately, warning that waves exceeding one metre above normal tides could be expected.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) also cautioned that waves of 1 to 3 metres could impact the Philippines, Indonesia, and the island nation of Palau. Indonesia issued its own tsunami alert for parts of northern Sulawesi and Papua.
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The quake comes just two weeks after the Philippines’ deadliest tremor in over a decade, a 6.9-magnitude offshore earthquake near Cebu that killed 72 people. Located on the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, the Philippines experiences over 800 earthquakes annually, making it one of the most seismically active regions in the world.