Major M7.4 earthquake hits Mindanao, Philippines, leaving at least 9 dead and hundreds injured
A strong earthquake registered by the USGS as M7.4 struck off the east coast of Mindanao, Philippines, at 01:43 UTC (09:43 local time) on October 10, 2025. The agency is reporting a depth of 58.1 km (36 miles). EMSC is reporting M7.4 at a depth of 53 km (33 miles). According to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC), hazardous tsunami waves were initially possible within 300 km (186 miles) of the epicenter, but the threat has since passed.
Epicenter of M7.4 earthquake in Mindanao, Philippines on October 10, 2025. Credit: TW/SAM, Google
The epicenter was located 20.2 km (12.5 miles) east of Santiago (population 2 631), 24.4 km (15.1 miles) east-northeast of Manay (population 20 336), 40.5 km (25.2 miles) south-southeast of Baganga (population 10 106), 68.7 km (42.7 miles) east-northeast of Mati (population 105 908), and 127.9 km (79.5 miles) east of Davao (population 1 776 949), Philippines.
2 287 000 people are estimated to have felt very strong shaking, 5 967 000 strong, 8 680 000 moderate, and 9 714 000 light.
According to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC), hazardous tsunami waves were possible within 300 km (186 miles) of the epicenter following the earthquake. In its final message at 03:57 UTC, PTWC said the tsunami threat had passed, though minor sea-level fluctuations of up to 7 cm (0.2 feet) were observed at Davao.
The USGS issued a Yellow alert for shaking-related fatalities and economic losses. Some casualties and damage are possible, and the impact should be relatively localized. Estimated economic losses are less than 1% of the Philippines’ GDP.
Overall, the population in this region resides in structures that are a mix of vulnerable and earthquake-resistant construction. The predominant vulnerable building types are miscellaneous and heavy wood frame construction. Recent earthquakes in this area have caused secondary hazards such as tsunamis and landslides that might have contributed to losses.
Liquefaction triggered by this earthquake is estimated to be significant in severity and/or spatial extent. Landslides triggered by this earthquake are expected to be significant in number and extent.
The Office of Civil Defense confirmed at least one fatality caused by falling debris, while ABS-CBN reported two deaths in Davao Oriental. Dozens of people sustained injuries, mainly from collapsing walls and falling objects during the intense shaking.
Authorities in Davao Oriental said several public buildings, including schools and government offices, suffered cracks and partial structural damage.
In the town of Governor Generoso, around 50 students were hospitalized after fainting or suffering distress during the quake. Power outages were reported across multiple municipalities in the province, and local officials temporarily suspended classes and work to allow for building inspections.
In Davao City, residents reported power interruptions and visible cracks in homes and commercial buildings, though major infrastructure remained intact. Airport operations continued despite reports of minor damage to terminal structures. Local disaster teams were deployed to assess the extent of damage across the Davao region, while emergency response units remained on alert for possible aftershocks.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) urged residents to remain cautious, especially in coastal and mountainous areas prone to landslides and aftershocks.
As of early reports, no widespread destruction was observed, but assessments are ongoing in several affected towns along the eastern coast of Mindanao.
Update
15:08 UTC, October 11
Initial assessments from PHIVOLCS, local authorities, and international news agencies report that the quake caused substantial damage and casualties across several provinces of Mindanao.
Updated figures compiled by local disaster agencies cite at least nine deaths and more than 941 injured, though these numbers are still being verified and are likely to change as rescue and assessment operations continue.
Damage reports indicate widespread structural impacts in Davao Oriental, Davao de Oro, and neighboring provinces. Residential homes, public buildings, schools, and hospitals were among the most affected.
Damage includes cracked walls, collapsed facades, and damaged bridges in several towns. Power interruptions were reported in parts of Mindanao due to damaged transmission lines, while communication disruptions briefly hampered rescue coordination. Emergency response teams have been deployed, with search and rescue operations focused on communities near the epicenter.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) has yet to publish its full consolidated situation report, and official casualty figures may still rise as isolated areas become accessible.
The 2025 M7.4 Davao Oriental earthquake is among the most powerful to strike the southern Philippines in recent years, occurring less than two weeks after a separate M6.9 event in Cebu that killed more than 75 people and injured hundreds. The two events, however, are not seismically connected.
Estimated population exposure to earthquake shaking
Selected cities exposed
Regional seismicity
References:
1 M7.4 earthquake Mindanao, Philippines — USGS — October 10, 2025
2 M7.4 earthquake Mindanao, Philippines — EMSC — October 10, 2025
3 M7.4 earthquake Mindanao, Philippines — PTWC — October 10, 2025
4 M7.4 earthquake Mindanao, Philippines — PTWC — October 10, 2025
I'm a dedicated researcher, journalist, and editor at The Watchers. With over 20 years of experience in the media industry, I specialize in hard science news, focusing on extreme weather, seismic and volcanic activity, space weather, and astronomy, including near-Earth objects and planetary defense strategies. You can reach me at teo /at/ watchers.news.
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