Two strong offshore earthquakes hit off the coast of the southern Philippines on 10th October and claimed at least seven lives, with towns close to the epicenter experiencing structural damage and officials issuing warnings of strong aftershocks.
The initial earthquake of 7.4 magnitude, in sea off the town of Manay in the province of Davao Oriental, prompted a tsunami warning for coasts up to 186 miles (300km) from the epicentre, but the Philippines and Indonesia warnings were later cancelled.
A second 6.8-magnitude earthquake hit the same region seven hours later, which issued another tsunami alert, with the nation’s seismological agency, Phivolcs, saying possible waves could be greater than 1 metre (3.2ft) above normal tidal levels.
Residents of coastal regions of the southern Philippines were “strongly advised to evacuate immediately” to higher ground, or retreat inland further, Phivolcs stated.
The agency head, Teresito Bacolcol, characterized the twin earthquakes as a doublet – two separate earthquakes that struck along a huge trench off the eastern seaboard of the country.
There were reports of damage to houses, buildings and bridges, one official in Manay reported, although the extent of the damage in the Philippines was not immediately apparent.
At least seven were killed, a civil defense official, Ednar Dayanghirang, reported during a briefing. The fatalities were reported in towns and cities close to the epicenter of the earthquake.
Videos posted on social media following the initial earthquake captured students running in fright out of school classrooms, radio presenters jumping from their seats in mid-air and individuals huddled down and holding on all fours as the earth heaved. Motorbikes were overturned by the power of the earthquake.
The Davao Oriental governor said residents panicked when the initial earthquake hit. “Some of the buildings were said to have been damaged,” Edwin Jubahib reported to the radio network DZMM. “It was very strong.”
Evacuations were ordered in the affected communities, and schools cancelled classes for the day.
Damage to infrastructure, including cracks in the structure of the Magsaysay Bridge in Butuan city, were reported. Ferdinand Marcos Jr, the Philippine president, said authorities were assessing the extent of the damage and search and rescue efforts being prepared. “We are working round the clock to ensure that help reaches everyone who needs it,” Marcos said.
Energy Secretary Sharon Garin stated that officials were tracking four Mindanao electric utilities following power supply trips in some regions. It was unknown if the shut-downs were due to the earthquake or were precautionary.
Teacher Christine Sierte of the town Compostela, close to Manay, reported to Agence France-Presse that she was having an online meeting when the intense shaking began.
It started very slow then it became stronger … That is the longest moment of my life. We could not exit the building at once because the shaking was so intense,” she explained.
“Some office ceilings collapsed but fortunately nobody was harmed.” She reported that some of the school’s 1,000 students “experienced panic attacks and shortness of breath.”.
Journalist Kath Cortez from Davao city stated that walls on the ground floor of her family house were developing minor cracks. “I was surprised by strength,” she said, stating that members of her family were running out of the house.
The quakes occurred 10 days after a fatal 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck Bogo City in Cebu province, which resulted in killing 71 individuals. Aftershocks are ongoing in the region.
Its neighboring country Indonesia also put out an earlier warning of a tsunami for its North Sulawesi and Papua regions, as per its geophysics agency.
The Philippines is located on the Pacific ring of fire and records over 800 earthquakes annually.
