A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck off the coast of Manay, Davao Oriental, on Friday, October 10, shaking large parts of Mindanao and the Visayas and forcing local governments to suspend classes and work.
The powerful tremor came just days after a magnitude 6.9 earthquake in Bogo City, Cebu, killed more than 70 people, injured hundreds, and displaced thousands.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) reported that the Davao quake occurred at 9:43 am at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers. The state seismologist initially measured it at magnitude 7.6 before downgrading it to 7.4 by noon.
The agency confirmed there was no tsunami threat but urged residents to stay alert for aftershocks.
Local governments across Davao Region moved swiftly after the quake. Davao City immediately suspended classes in all levels, both public and private, to allow engineers and authorities to inspect schools and public infrastructure.
The city government said the suspension aimed to prioritize safety and ensure the stability of buildings.
In Davao Oriental, the municipality of Governor Generoso suspended both classes and work in all government offices, while private establishments were advised to take similar precautions.
Davao de Oro officials also halted classes and work, except for essential and frontline services.
Inspections underway
The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Soccsksargen announced widespread suspensions across General Santos City, Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato, and several towns in Cotabato and Sarangani provinces.
Disaster councils in these areas immediately conducted inspections and activated response teams.
The earthquake’s impact extended to the Visayas, prompting Talisay City and Mandaue City in Cebu, as well as Negros Oriental, to suspend classes at all levels in both public and private schools as a precautionary measure.
In Negros Occidental, tremors also prompted schools such as Kabankalan Catholic College (KCC), Fellowship Baptist College (FBC), and Talubangi National High School, among others, in Kabankalan City to suspend classes while authorities assessed the safety of buildings.
Disaster response units across the affected regions continue to inspect public facilities, roads, and key infrastructure for possible damage.
OCD regional offices remain on full alert and have urged local governments to prepare evacuation centers in case aftershocks intensify.*
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.