Manila — The Philippines and Indonesia breathed a cautious sigh of relief on Friday after tsunami warnings were lifted following a magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck off the coast of the Philippines’ Mindanao region, rattling cities and sending residents rushing to higher ground.
The US Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC), which had earlier cautioned of waves reaching up to three metres above normal levels along parts of the Philippine coastline, said the danger had passed several hours after the quake. It also warned of smaller surges — up to a metre high — along the coasts of Indonesia and Palau before rescinding its alert.
Authorities in both nations have since confirmed there was no major structural damage, though the quake triggered panic in several areas. Local media images showed frantic evacuations in Davao City, near the epicentre, with hospital patients being wheeled out into open spaces as aftershocks rippled through the region.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered emergency evacuations across vulnerable coastal provinces and said search and rescue teams were standing by to respond “as soon as it is safe to do so.” Officials later confirmed the death of a woman in Mati City who was struck by falling debris.
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In Tandag City, a minor wave measuring around 30 centimetres was recorded, while Indonesia’s North Sulawesi province reported small tsunamis ranging from 3.5 to 17 centimetres. Authorities there urged residents to remain calm but vigilant.
The quake, which struck at 9:43 a.m. local time (01:43 GMT), was felt across much of southern Mindanao and parts of Indonesia’s northern archipelago. The Philippines’ state seismology agency described it as one of the strongest to hit the region in recent months.
Friday’s tremor adds to a difficult stretch for the disaster-prone Philippines, which has endured a series of natural calamities in recent weeks — including a deadly earthquake in Cebu province and successive typhoons that battered northern and central regions.
Although the immediate tsunami threat has eased, seismologists warn that aftershocks are likely to continue for several days, keeping coastal communities on alert.