An offshore earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.6 struck off the coast of Davao Oriental, a southern province of the Philippines, on Friday morning. This seismic event prompted authorities to issue warnings for a potential hazardous tsunami in the vicinity.
According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), this earthquake resulted from a shallow fault movement occurring at a depth of 10 kilometres. The quake’s epicentre centred approximately 62 kilometres southeast of Manay town. Authorities caution about possible damages and strong aftershocks following the tremor.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Honolulu highlighted that hazardous waves could emerge within 300 kilometres of the epicentre. Reports also state that certain coastal areas in the Philippines may face waves up to 3 metres above normal tide levels. In addition, smaller tsunami waves may affect regions in Indonesia and Palau.
The Philippines is still healing from the devastation of a magnitude 6.9 earthquake on September 30, which resulted in at least 74 fatalities and displaced thousands in the central province of Cebu, particularly affecting Bogo city and its neighbouring towns.
Recognised as one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries, the Philippines sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, an area notorious for frequent seismic activity. The archipelago also experiences an average of 20 typhoons and storms annually. Hence, disaster preparedness and response remain critical responsibilities for both government and volunteer organisations.
In light of these events, authorities have urged residents living near the coast to remain vigilant and adhere to evacuation protocols until the tsunami threat is officially lifted.
