DAVAO ORIENTAL, 10 October 2025 — A powerful magnitude 7.4 tectonic earthquake struck offshore Davao Oriental at 9:43 a.m. (PHT) on Friday, sending thousands of residents fleeing from schools, malls, offices, and homes. The quake, initially recorded as magnitude 7.6, had its epicenter in Manay, Davao Oriental, at a depth of 58 kilometers. Shaking was felt across Mindanao and as far as Indonesia and Palau. The incident comes just weeks after a 6.9-magnitude quake in Cebu killed 74 people and displaced thousands.

Authorities reported widespread panic as the ground shook violently. Video footage from markets in Davao showed people screaming and taking cover, while patients were evacuated from hospitals for safety. The Davao City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) confirmed that 347 individuals fainted or sustained minor injuries, while several students were hospitalized due to dizziness and panic. Reports also confirmed at least three fatalities, one in Davao City, two in Davao Oriental and a man killed in a landslide, with others possibly trapped or injured.

More than 266 aftershocks, including strong 5.9-, 5.8-, and 5.6-magnitude tremors, have been recorded since the main quake. Infrastructure damage has been reported across Davao Oriental and nearby provinces, including cracked bridges, roads, schools, and workplaces. Landslides were also observed in Davao de Oro, and debris blocked major roads from Caraga to Mati City. Davao City and neighboring provinces suspended work and classes to allow rapid damage assessments.

Islamic Relief Philippines is closely monitoring the situation in Davao Oriental and surrounding areas. Given the broad geographic spread of the shaking from Davao Oriental to parts of Eastern Visayas, secondary displacement, service interruptions, and strain on local protection systems may follow, especially in communities with limited humanitarian support.