Powerful Earthquake Hits Southern Philippines, Tsunami Warnings Issued

A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.4 hit the southern Philippines on Friday morning. The quake struck offshore near the town of Manay in Davao Oriental, located in the Mindanao region.

The Philippine seismology agency (Phivolcs) warned of strong aftershocks. At least one person was confirmed dead, according to a government official.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) said waves between 1 to 3 meters were possible earlier, but later announced that the tsunami threat for the Philippines had passed. However, some other countries kept their tsunami warnings in place.

Some homes, buildings, and bridges in Manay were damaged. Local disaster officials said the quake lasted about 30 to 40 seconds and was very strong.

“This is the strongest earthquake I have ever felt,” said Richie Diuyen, a local official in Manay.

Videos on social media showed office workers hiding under desks and running outside. In some areas, schools were closed and inspections were underway.

Indonesia also issued a tsunami warning for its northern regions, and waves up to 1 meter were expected in some parts of Indonesia and Palau.

The quake was one of the strongest in the Philippines in recent years. Just two weeks earlier, a 6.9 magnitude quake killed 74 people in Cebu.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said rescue teams are ready to help as soon as it is safe. “We are working round the clock to make sure help reaches everyone,” he said.

The Philippines is located on the Pacific “Ring of Fire” and experiences hundreds of earthquakes each year.