President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. assured the public that the government is actively assessing the situation and prioritizing safety following the magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck Davao Oriental on Friday morning.
In a statement, Marcos said he has directed the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), Office of Civil Defense (OCD), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and other concerned agencies to carry out evacuations in coastal areas, activate emergency communication lines, and coordinate with local governments for immediate response.
“Search, rescue, and relief operations are already being prepared and will be deployed as soon as it is safe to do so. The Department of Social Welfare and Development is pre-positioning food and non-food items, while the Department of Health is ready to provide emergency medical assistance,” Marcos said.
The President urged residents in affected areas to remain vigilant and stay away from shorelines until authorities declare it safe.
“Follow all instructions from your local disaster councils and barangay officials. Your safety is our top priority,” he emphasized.
“We are working round the clock to ensure that help reaches everyone who needs it. Let us continue to look out for one another and pray for the safety of all our countrymen.”
According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), the quake, initially reported as magnitude 7.6, was later revised to 7.4 with a depth of 23 kilometers and an epicenter in Manay, Davao Oriental.
Phivolcs recorded Intensity V in Davao City and Intensity IV in Bislig City, Surigao del Sur, with various instrumental intensities logged across Mindanao and parts of the Visayas, including Southern Leyte, Misamis Oriental, Davao de Oro, Sarangani, Cotabato, South Cotabato, and Cebu City.
Phivolcs said aftershocks and possible damage are expected following the strong tremor.