Yet Another Tremor: Magnitude 5.8 Quake Strikes Davao Oriental, a Day After Twin Earthquakes Devastate Southern Philippines

By Voice of Malaysia News | October 11, 2025

MANILA, Oct 11 : A magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck the town of Manay in Davao Oriental province on Saturday evening, deepening fears among residents still reeling from two powerful quakes that hit the same region just a day earlier.

According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), the tremor occurred at 6:27 p.m. local time at a shallow depth of 10 kilometres. The quake was felt at Intensity III in Mati City, Sta. Maria (Davao Occidental), Nabunturan (Davao de Oro), and Malungon (Sarangani), while Intensity II was reported in Digos City, Alabel, Kiamba, Tupi, and Palimbang.

No immediate reports of new casualties or major damage have been released following Saturday evening’s quake. However, authorities remain on high alert as aftershocks continue to shake the region.

The latest tremor came less than 24 hours after twin undersea earthquakes — measuring magnitude 7.4 and 6.8  struck off the coast of Manay on Friday, leaving at least eight people dead and more than 300 injured.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said over 200,000 residents have been affected across several provinces in southern Mindanao. Many survivors spent Friday night outdoors, fearing further collapses and aftershocks.

Among the fatalities were three people in Mati City, including a woman trapped under a collapsed wall in her home. Two miners also died in a landslide in Pantukan town, while single deaths were reported in Davao City and Tarragona.

Most of the injured sustained trauma, bruises, and fractures from falling debris. Local hospitals also treated dozens for panic-related conditions such as hyperventilation and fainting particularly students caught inside school buildings when the first major quake struck around 9:43 a.m.

The second major quake, recorded at 7:12 p.m., triggered widespread power outages and prompted Phivolcs to issue tsunami warnings for coastal areas. These advisories were later lifted after sea levels stabilized.

Photos from Mati City showed families camping out in open fields and roadsides under makeshift tents on Saturday night, too afraid to return home amid ongoing tremors.

Local authorities, backed by the military and rescue teams, have been distributing relief goods and setting up evacuation centres. Search and rescue operations are continuing in affected areas, with engineers assessing structural damage to schools, bridges, and residential buildings.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered a full-scale response to assist affected communities, emphasizing coordination between national and local agencies.

Experts warn that aftershocks could persist for several days, and residents are urged to remain vigilant and follow safety advisories from local authorities.

— Voice of Malaysia News