MANILA – Two powerful earthquakes struck the same region of the southern Philippines just hours apart on Friday, killing at least seven people, injuring hundreds, damaging buildings, and sparking brief tsunami evacuations along the coast.
The first quake, a 7.4-magnitude offshore tremor, hit around 7:45 a.m. near Manay town in Davao Oriental province, setting off landslides and sending residents scrambling from homes, schools, and hospitals. It was followed hours later by a 6.8-magnitude “doublet” quake along the same fault line — the Philippine Trench — deepening fears of structural collapse in already damaged areas.
“This is a separate earthquake, which we call a doublet quake,” explained Teresito Bacolcol, head of the Philippine Institute of Seismology and Volcanology.
Casualties and Damage
Officials confirmed at least seven deaths:
- Two hospital patients in Mati city suffered fatal heart attacks during the first quake.
- One resident was killed by falling debris in Mati.
- Three villagers died in a landslide in Pantukan town, Davao de Oro province.
- One more fatality was reported in Davao City, where hundreds were also injured.
Many structures sustained cracks, including Davao International Airport, which remained operational. In Governor Generoso town, power lines swayed and buildings cracked. “People darted out of houses and buildings as the ground shook and electricity came off,” said disaster officer Jun Saavedra.
In nearby schools, dozens of students were treated for injuries, fainting, or dizziness after evacuations. Classes were suspended across Davao Oriental, and children were evacuated in Davao City, home to 5.4 million people.
Tsunami Warnings Lifted
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center detected small waves along the Philippines and Indonesia after the first quake, but the tsunami warning for six coastal provinces was lifted within two hours. Indonesia recorded minor sea fluctuations of 3.5 to 17 cm in North Sulawesi.
Ongoing Disaster Response
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered damage assessments and prepared rescue and relief operations, marking another disaster response effort after a 6.9-magnitude quake on September 30 killed at least 74 people in Cebu.
The Philippines, located on the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, experiences frequent earthquakes and up to 20 typhoons annually, making disaster preparedness a constant challenge for authorities.
Separately on Friday, a 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck off Papua New Guinea in the Bismarck Sea, though no damage was reported.