DAVAO, Philippines: A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck off the southeastern coast of the Philippines on Friday morning, sending panicked residents running into the streets as buildings shook violently.
According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the quake hit 123 kilometers (79 miles) east of Davao, the largest city on Mindanao island, at a depth of 58.1 kilometers (36 miles), around 9:45 a.m. local time. There were no immediate reports of casualties or major damage, reports CNN.
The US Tsunami Warning System initially issued alerts for potential waves across the Philippines, Indonesia, and Palau, but the warning was lifted by midday after the threat subsided.
Panic and Chaos Captured on Video
Dramatic footage from Mindanao showed frightened residents fleeing into open spaces, while others struggled to stay on their feet as the ground heaved.
In Davao City, a market video feed captured people screaming and taking cover as stalls rattled and items toppled. Firefighters were seen crouching outside their station as sirens blared.
Jaymar Seso, a witness outside the Davao Regional Medical Center, told CNN that “all the people in the building came out shouting loudly,” adding that the fear on their faces was “unmistakable” once the shaking stopped.
President Marcos Orders Emergency Response
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said authorities were assessing the situation and preparing search and rescue operations. “We are working round the clock to ensure that help reaches everyone who needs it,” he said in remarks reported by Reuters.
The quake struck less than two weeks after a deadly 6.9-magnitude earthquake hit the central island of Cebu, killing at least 72 people, injuring hundreds, and displacing tens of thousands.
A Nation on the Ring of Fire
The Philippines sits along the Pacific “Ring of Fire” a 40,000-kilometer arc of fault lines responsible for frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity. The country endures dozens of tremors every year and has been battered by two destructive typhoons this month alone, compounding its humanitarian challenges.
