An offshore earthquake measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale struck off the coast of Davao Oriental, a southern province of the Philippines, on Friday morning. The seismic event triggered warnings of a potential hazardous tsunami affecting nearby coastal areas.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) reported that the earthquake resulted from shallow fault movement at a depth of 10 kilometres. The epicentre was located approximately 62 kilometres southeast of Manay town. Authorities have indicated that this significant tremor could lead to substantial damage and strong aftershocks in the region.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) in Honolulu has warned that hazardous waves may impact areas within 300 kilometres of the epicentre. Some coastlines in the Philippines might experience wave heights reaching up to 3 metres above normal tide levels. Indonesia and Palau also face the potential for smaller tsunami waves due to this seismological event.
This earthquake occurs while the Philippines continues to recover from a severe magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck on September 30. That disaster resulted in the unfortunate loss of at least 74 lives and displaced thousands, particularly in the central province of Cebu, including Bogo City and surrounding towns.
The Philippines ranks among the world’s most disaster-prone countries, situated on the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, an area renowned for frequent seismic activity. Furthermore, the archipelago is battered by around 20 typhoons and storms annually, which makes disaster preparedness and response a vital duty for the government and various volunteer organizations.
In the wake of today’s earthquake, authorities have called upon residents in coastal regions to remain vigilant and adhere to evacuation protocols until the tsunami threat has passed. Emergency services remain on high alert to respond effectively to any incidents arising from this natural disaster.
