Two powerful quakes strike off southern Philippines, killing at least 7 people

The southern Philippines was struck by two powerful offshore earthquakes on Friday, causing significant damage, casualties, and widespread panic. The first earthquake, measuring 7.4 in magnitude, occurred in the Philippine Trench, 43 kilometers east of Manay town in Davao Oriental province. It resulted in at least seven fatalities, including two hospital patients who succumbed to heart attacks and a resident killed by debris in Mati city. The quake also triggered landslides in a remote gold-mining village in Pantukan town, where three villagers died and several others were injured. Hundreds of residents in Davao city sustained injuries, and buildings, including an international airport, suffered structural damage. Hours later, a second earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.8 struck the same region, raising fears of further structural collapse. Both quakes prompted tsunami warnings, leading to evacuations in coastal areas. Small tsunami waves were detected in the Philippines and Indonesia, but the threat subsided without major incidents. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has mobilized rescue and relief efforts as the nation grapples with the aftermath of these disasters, compounded by recent storms and a deadly earthquake in September.