Two massive earthquakes turned October 10, a Friday, into a day of panic and loss in Davao Oriental, where seven people died, 11 were injured, and thousands sought safety after the ground repeatedly shook, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS).
The agency confirmed on Saturday, October 11, that all fatalities were from the Davao Region, while one of the injured came from Caraga.
The twin tremors—measuring magnitude 7.4 in the morning and 6.8 in the evening—shook large parts of Mindanao and forced thousands of residents to evacuate.
The quakes affected 3,519 families, or 8,436 individuals, in Davao Region and Caraga. Of these, 2,468 families, or 7,915 people, are now staying in evacuation centers as aftershocks continue to strike the area.
The NDRRMC reported that the tremors damaged 28 houses and destroyed five others.
The quakes also cut off access in several areas, leaving five road sections and one bridge in Davao Region, Soccsksargen, and Caraga impassable.
The offshore quakes, both tectonic in origin, triggered tsunami warnings that authorities later lifted after confirming no significant sea-level disturbances.*
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, maintains a personal blog on Medium, and is the communications officer of Hope Builders Organization Negros Island.