Southern Philippines Shaken by Powerful 7.6-Magnitude Earthquake: Tragedy and Evacuations Follow

A powerful 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck the southern Philippines on Saturday evening, resulting in at least one fatality and several injuries. Widespread panic ensued, leading to the evacuation of thousands of residents after a tsunami warning was issued, which was later lifted. The earthquake, occurring at a depth of 32 kilometers (20 miles), initially raised concerns about possible tsunami waves in the southern Philippines, Indonesia, Palau, and Malaysia.

Tragically, a pregnant woman lost her life in Tagum City, Davao del Norte Province, when a 4.5-meter concrete wall collapsed on her, her husband, and daughter. The man and daughter sustained injuries. In Japan’s Okinawa Prefecture, evacuation orders were issued for thousands of residents in various coastal areas.

Despite the strong shaking, initial assessments showed no major damage in many areas, except for two damaged bridges and isolated power outages, as reported by Defense Minister Gilberto Teodoro Jr. The evacuation of hospital patients was a precaution that was later halted after inspections revealed no serious damage.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology advised coastal residents of Surigao del Sur and Davao Oriental provinces, near the earthquake’s epicenter, to evacuate to higher ground. Images on social media showed residents fleeing on foot or in various vehicles.

Civil aviation authorities reported no major damage to southern airports, ensuring uninterrupted flight operations. The earthquake underscores the vulnerability of the Philippines to natural disasters, being located on the Pacific Ocean’s “Ring of Fire,” exposed to typhoons, storms, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions.