Two people have reportedly been killed in Philippines after an earthquake measuring 7.5 on the Richter scale hit Mindanao region on Friday. Buildings of several schools and a hospital were damaged and power supply was disrupted after the powerful tremors which also prompted evacuations of coastal areas nearby due to a tsunami warning. The alert was later lifted.
The quake was at a depth of 62 km (38.53 miles), the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) said. Follow live updates on the Philippines earthquake here.
Children evacuated schools in Davao city, which has about 5.4 million people and is the biggest city near the epicenter, about 250 kilometers (155 miles) west of Davao Oriental province.
The authorities had earlier warned of ‘destructive tsunami’ with ‘life-threatening’ wave heights and people had been asked to evacuate immediately to safer places. However, the tsunami threat has now passed, news agency Reuters reported.
The Phivolcs agency warned of damage and aftershocks after the strong offshore quake, which struck in waters off Manay town in Davao Oriental in the Mindanao region. It revised down the magnitude from an initial reading of 7.6 to 7.5, and put the depth of the quake at 20 km (12 miles).
The first tsunami waves were expected to arrive between 09:43:54 to 11:43:54, 10 Oct 2025 (PST). “These waves may continue for hours, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology warned.
“Based on the local tsunami scenario database, it is expected to experience wave heights of more than one meter above the normal tides and may be higher on enclosed bays and straits,” the department said.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has said that the authorities are assessing the situation and search and rescue operations will begin soon.
“We are working round the clock to ensure that help reaches everyone who needs it,” Marcos said.
Bloomberg quoted Davao del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib saying that infrastructural damage is being reported as they continue to monitor the situation. Ednar Dayanghirang, regional director from the Office of Civil Defense, said he received reports that there are buildings and a church damaged in Davao Oriental.
The U.S. Tsunami Warning System also issued a tsunami threat, saying hazardous tsunami waves are possible for coasts located within 300 km (186 miles) of the earthquake’s epicenter.
A tsunami warning has also been issued in Indonesia’s North Sulawesi and Papua regions. The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency warned of waves as high as 50 centimeters (20 inches).
Last week, Cebu province in Philippines was rocked by a 6.9 magnitude earthquake that killed at least 74 people and left scores injured. The powerful quake also destroyed the centuries-old Parish of Saint Peter the Apostle in Bantayan, which crumbled due to the impact of the tremors.
Source: Hindustan Times
