Two powerful offshore earthquakes struck the southern Philippines on October 10, 2025, killing at least seven people and inflicting widespread damage across coastal areas of Davao Oriental province. The tremors prompted tsunami alerts, landslides, evacuations, and concerns about further structural collapse.
Doublet Quake: Magnitudes, Timing & Location
The first quake, registering magnitude 7.4, struck near Manay, Davao Oriental, at a depth of approximately 23 km. It was followed about seven hours later by a second tremor of 6.8 magnitude, occurring along the same fault system.
Seismologists called this sequence a doublet — two distinct but related quakes along the Philippine Trench system.
Human Toll & Damage Reported
The fatalities came from a variety of causes:
- In Mati City, a person was struck by debris during the first quake.
- Two hospital patients died of heart attacks, likely triggered by the tremors.
- Landslides claimed lives in Pantukan and other mountainous areas.
- One death was reported in Davao City as structures shook and walls cracked.
Beyond loss of life, the quakes damaged homes, buildings, bridges, hospitals, and schools. In Manay, many houses collapsed or sustained serious structural damage. The local hospital had to evacuate patients after structural cracks were discovered. Utilities, including power lines, were disrupted across several municipalities.
Tsunami Warnings Raised, Then Lifted
Immediately following the first quake, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) issued a tsunami warning for coastal provinces within 300 km of the epicenter. The U.S. Pacific Tsunami Warning Center also flagged possible waves 1–3 m above normal tides.
However, after further analysis and a period without destructive wave activity, the warnings were lifted. Some low-amplitude fluctuations were recorded, but none caused major damage.
Government Response & Emergency Measures
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. pledged swift action: search and rescue teams, structural assessments, and aid distribution are being mobilised. Authorities ordered evacuations in vulnerable coastal zones and suspended classes in several areas to prioritize safety inspections.
Local government leaders in Davao Oriental declared states of calamity in affected towns to expedite relief and recovery operations.
Seismic Context & Risks Ahead
The Philippines lies in the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region of intense tectonic activity. Quakes of this magnitude are not uncommon, and the country experiences hundreds of seismic events each year.
However, what makes this event notable is the doublet nature, which increases risk — structurally weakened buildings from the first quake may collapse during the second. Aftershocks are expected, with magnitudes up to 5.9 already recorded.
This disaster follows closely on the heels of a deadly 6.9 magnitude quake in Cebu just days earlier, which claimed dozens of lives.
