An offshore earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.6 jolted the coast of Davao Oriental in the Philippines on Friday morning. This seismic activity raised alarms for a potential hazardous tsunami in nearby regions.
The tremor, caused by a shallow fault movement at a depth of 10 kilometres, occurred approximately 62 kilometres southeast of Manay town, as reported by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS). Following the quake, officials anticipated possible damage alongside strong aftershocks in the area.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center based in Honolulu alerted that hazardous waves may strike within 300 kilometres of the epicentre. Reports indicate that some parts of the Philippine coastline could see waves rising up to 3 metres above normal tide levels. Smaller tsunami waves may also affect locations in Indonesia and Palau.
Currently, the Philippines grapples with the aftermath of a previous magnitude 6.9 earthquake that occurred on September 30. That incident resulted in at least 74 fatalities and displaced thousands, particularly impacting areas in central Cebu, including Bogo city and its surrounding towns.
Being one of the most disaster-prone countries globally, the Philippines lies on the Pacific “Ring of Fire”. This region is infamous for frequent seismic activity. Additionally, the archipelago faces about 20 typhoons and storms every year, highlighting the critical need for robust disaster preparedness and response frameworks by government and volunteer organizations alike.
Authorities strongly urge coastal residents to remain vigilant, adhere to evacuation protocols, and keep a safe distance from vulnerable shorelines until the tsunami threat duly subsides.
