MANILA – A powerful 6.7 magnitude earthquake struck early Wednesday morning off the coast of Mindanao island in the southern Philippines, sending shockwaves across the region and sparking brief panic among residents.
The Philippines Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) reported the tremor hit at 11:02 a.m. local time. Its epicenter lay approximately 47 kilometers from the coastal town of Manay in Davao Oriental province, at a depth of 42 kilometers beneath the ocean floor.
Residents throughout Mindanao felt the intense shaking, prompting many to rush out of homes and offices in fear. Social media quickly filled with videos of swaying buildings and people fleeing to open spaces.
In a sigh of relief, no immediate reports of major damage or casualties emerged. Local police and disaster response teams near the epicenter confirmed no injuries or significant structural harm as of latest updates.
PHIVOLCS issued a warning about potential aftershocks, urging vigilance especially in areas closest to the epicenter where hidden damage could still pose risks. Officials remain on high alert, monitoring the situation closely.
This event underscores the Philippines’ precarious position on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a seismically active zone where tectonic plates constantly grind against each other, fueling frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity.
Recent history amplifies concerns. Just weeks ago on December 22, a 5.7 magnitude quake rattled nearby waters at a shallow 10-kilometer depth. More devastating was October’s 6.9 tremor in the central Philippines, which claimed lives, toppled buildings, cut power supplies, and prompted a short-lived tsunami alert near Cebu province.
As authorities assess any lingering threats, the nation braces for possible aftershocks while reinforcing the need for robust earthquake preparedness in this vulnerable archipelago.