7.6-Magnitude Earthquake Rocks Philippines, Authorities Issue Tsunami Alert

A strong 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck the Philippines on Friday, triggering tsunami warnings and evacuation orders for coastal areas.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported that the quake hit offshore near Manay town in Davao Oriental, Mindanao, at a depth of 10 km. Authorities warned of possible aftershocks and structural damage, urging residents in central and southern coastal regions to move to higher ground or further inland. There are no immediate reports of casualties.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii issued alerts for areas within 186 miles of the epicenter, warning that waves up to 3 meters could hit parts of the Philippine coast. Smaller waves were expected in neighboring Indonesia and Palau.

Davao Oriental Governor Edwin Jubahib said residents panicked during the tremors. “Some buildings were reported damaged. It was very strong,” he told local media. Videos circulating on social media showed widespread panic, including patients and staff evacuating Tagum City Davao Hospital and water in containers shaking violently at a fish-rearing facility.

As a precaution, Indonesia issued tsunami warnings for northern Sulawesi and Papua, anticipating waves of up to 50 cm along the coast. The earthquake comes just two weeks after a magnitude 6.9 offshore quake near Cebu killed 72 people, marking the deadliest earthquake in the Philippines in over a decade.