7.4 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Philippines, Triggers Tsunami Warning

A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck off the southern Philippines today, October 10, 2025, at 06:42:00, resulting in at least two confirmed fatalities, infrastructure damage, and prompting a now-lifted tsunami warning for coastal areas.

The earthquake’s epicenter was located at sea, approximately 43 kilometers (27 miles) east of Manay town in Davao Oriental province, at a depth of 23 kilometers (14 miles), according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. Governor Nelson Dayanghirang Sr. of Davao Oriental reported that two people died after being pinned in damaged houses. Approximately 250 patients were evacuated from a damaged hospital and are being housed in temporary tents. The quake caused cracks in buildings, including an international airport in Davao City, though it remained operational.

A tsunami warning was initially issued for six coastal provinces, leading to evacuations, but was later lifted after small waves were detected in the Philippines and Indonesia. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Honolulu reported sea fluctuations ranging up to 17 centimeters in parts of Indonesia. “I was driving my car when it suddenly swayed and I saw powerlines swaying wildly,” said Jun Saavedra, a disaster-mitigation officer in Gov. Generoso town. “People darted out of houses and buildings as the ground shook and electricity came off.” The Philippines is located in the Pacific Ring of Fire and is frequently impacted by seismic activity.

Rescue teams and relief operations are being prepared for deployment when it is safe to do so, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. stated, as assessments of the full extent of the damage continue. Officials are also monitoring for aftershocks and providing support to affected communities.