A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck offshore Davao Oriental early Friday, prompting a tsunami warning for coastal areas in Mindanao and the Visayas as well as parts of Indonesia, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the immediate evacuation of tsunami-prone coastal communities, and directed all disaster response agencies—including the military—to conduct urgent assessment, search, rescue, and relief operations. “Your safety is our top priority,” the President said, urging the public to stay calm and alert.
Though the quake originated twice deeper underground—at a depth of 10 kilometers—compared to the one that hit Bogo City, Cebu just 10 days ago, its stronger magnitude is expected to cause significant damage, particularly in densely populated areas.
