Tsunami warning up over 7 areas after magnitude 7.4 earthquake in Davao Oriental

LIVE UPDATES: Davao Oriental earthquake (Oct. 10, 2025)

A tsunami warning has been raised over seven areas following the magnitude 7.4 earthquake in offshore Davao Oriental on Friday morning, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) said.

According to PHIVOLCS, the people in the coastal areas of the following provinces are “strongly advised to immediately evacuate” to higher grounds or move farther inland:

• Eastern Samar
• Dinagat Islands
• Davao Oriental
• Southern Leyte
• Surigao Del Norte
• Leyte
• Surigao Del Sur

PHIVOLCS said “destructive tsunami is expected with life threatening wave heights.”

“Based on the local tsunami scenario database, it is expected to experience wave heights of more than one meter above the normal tides and may be higher on enclosed bays and straits,” PHIVOLCS said.

“It is forecasted that the first tsunami waves will arrive between 09:43:54 to 11:43:54, 10 Oct 2025 (PST). These waves may continue for hours,” it added.

The tsunami warning was lifted at 1:43 p.m., Friday.

PHIVOLCS advised owners of boats in harbors, estuaries or shallow coastal waters of the above-mentioned provinces to secure their boats and move away from the waterfront.

The agency added that boats already at sea during this period should stay offshore in deep waters until further advised.

Initially, PHIVOLCS reported that the earthquake was magnitude 7.6 before downgrading it to 7.4 before 11 a.m., Friday.

In a Facebook post, the Department of the Interior and Local Government directed local chief executives to prepare for the threat and evacuate the communities located  very near the shoreline.

It also ordered the local officials to activate their respective emergency operations centers and incident management teams and establish evacuation routes, directional signs, and safe zones.

—AOL, GMA Integrated News