2025 Mindanao Earthquake

The 2025 Mindanao Earthquake was a magnitude 7.4 earthquake that occurred on 10 October 2025 off the coast of Mindanao Island in southern Philippines. The earthquake triggered tsunami warnings and led to evacuations in coastal areas.

Time and Magnitude of the Earthquake

The earthquake occurred at 09:43 local time on 10 October 2025 (01:43 GMT). According to data from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), the tremor was recorded off the coast of Manay town in the Davao Oriental province on the eastern coast of Mindanao Island. The earthquake’s focal depth was measured between 23 and 60 kilometers.

Initially reported as magnitude 7.6, the quake was later revised to magnitude 7.4. The shaking lasted approximately 30 to 40 seconds and was strongly felt especially in the Davao City, Mati and Banay-Banay areas on the eastern part of Mindanao.

Tsunami Warning and Evacuations

Immediately after the earthquake, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology issued a “destructive tsunami” warning for the southern and eastern coastal regions of the country. The agency stated that waves could rise more than one meter above normal sea level and could be even higher in enclosed bays and straits. The US-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) reported that waves up to three meters could occur along Philippine coastlines and up to one meter along the shores of Indonesia and Palau.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the immediate evacuation of residents in coastal areas to higher ground. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), the Office of Civil Defense, the Armed Forces and coast guard units activated the highest alert level across the region. Marcos stated, “Search and rescue and relief operations will commence as soon as conditions permit.”

A tsunami warning was also issued for the North Sulawesi and Papua regions of Indonesia, but the threat was declared over within a few hours. The Indonesian Agency for Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics reported minor waves ranging from 3.5 to 17 centimeters recorded on the Talaud Islands.

Damage, Casualties and Affected Areas

Initial assessments indicated that at least two people lost their lives in the earthquake. According to the BBC, a 54-year-old woman in Mati died after a wall near a power plant collapsed. Davao Oriental Governor Nelson Dayanghirang announced that at least 250 patients were evacuated from a damaged hospital and relocated to temporary tents.

Crack damage was reported on roads and bridges in some areas. Structural damage was identified in public buildings in the towns of Manay, Banay-Banay and Mati. Cracks appeared on the walls of Davao City International Airport, but air traffic was not suspended. The Davao City administration announced the suspension of classes in all public and private schools.

Internet connectivity and power lines in the region experienced outages. Firefighting and rescue teams in Davao Oriental and Caraga regions evacuated thousands of people from coastal areas to safe locations.

Aftershocks and Regional Impact

Following the main shock, numerous aftershocks with magnitudes between 2.6 and 4.9 were recorded off the coast of Mindanao. PHIVOLCS stated that aftershocks could continue for several days. The earthquake was also felt in the Indonesian cities of Talaud and Manado, in addition to the Philippines. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center noted a “hazardous wave potential” within a 300-kilometer radius of the earthquake’s epicenter.

PHIVOLCS official Dr. Teresito Bacolcol reminded the public that the Philippines lies on the Pacific Ring of Fire and therefore regularly experiences earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and tsunamis, adding that “the Filipino people must be prepared rather than panicked.”

Geological Setting and Previous Earthquakes

The Philippines is located on the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire, one of the world’s most active tectonic zones, where frequent strong earthquakes occur. The Mindanao earthquake followed a magnitude 6.9 earthquake on 30 September 2025 in Cebu Island, Philippines, which killed 74 people Cebu Earthquake.