A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.5 struck Mindanao in the Philippines on October 10. Authorities had initially issued warnings of a “destructive tsunami” with potentially “life-threatening” wave heights, urging residents to evacuate to safer areas immediately. However, according to a report by Reuters, the tsunami threat has since passed.
The earthquake struck at a depth of 62 kilometres (38.5 miles), according to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC). Stay tuned for live updates on the situation in the Philippines.
Children were evacuated from schools in Davao City, home to around 5.4 million people and the largest city near the earthquake’s epicentre, located approximately 250 kilometres (155 miles) west of Davao Oriental province.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) warned of possible damage and aftershocks following the powerful offshore earthquake, which struck off the coast of Manay town in Davao Oriental, within the Mindanao region. The agency initially recorded the quake at magnitude 7.6 but later revised it to 7.5, with a reported depth of 20 kilometres (12 miles).
The first tsunami waves were expected to arrive between 9:43 AM and 11:43 AM (PST) on October 10, 2025, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), which also warned that the waves could persist for several hours.
“Based on our local tsunami scenario database, wave heights of over one meter above normal tide levels are expected, and these could be even higher in enclosed bays and straits,” the agency stated.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. stated that authorities are currently assessing the situation and that search and rescue operations will begin shortly. “We are working around the clock to make sure help reaches everyone in need,” Marcos said.
According to Bloomberg, Davao del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib reported signs of infrastructure damage as monitoring efforts continue. Ednar Dayanghirang, regional director of the Office of Civil Defence, also confirmed receiving reports of damaged buildings and a church in Davao Oriental.
The US Tsunami Warning System also issued a tsunami alert, warning that hazardous tsunami waves could impact coastal areas within 300 kilometres (186 miles) of the earthquake’s epicentre.
Meanwhile, Indonesia has issued a tsunami warning for its North Sulawesi and Papua regions. The country’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency cautioned that waves could reach heights of up to 50 centimetres (20 inches).
Just last week, a 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck Cebu province in the Philippines, claiming the lives of at least 74 people and leaving many others injured. The powerful tremor also caused the collapse of the centuries-old Parish of Saint Peter the Apostle in Bantayan, which was reduced to rubble by the force of the quake.
