Davao 'doublet' quakes death toll rises to 7 – NDRRMC
Published Oct 11, 2025 08:53 am
Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Administrator Usec. Harold Cabreros (right) holds an emergency meeting with officials of the OCD in Davao Region (OCD-11) in Davao City on Oct. 10, 2025 to discuss the situation of residents affected by the magnitude 7.4 and 6.8 earthquakes in Davao Oriental, as well as the ongoing response operations in the province and additional assistance needed. (Photo: OCD)
Seven people have already been killed by the “doublet” or twin earthquakes that struck Davao Oriental, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported Saturday morning, Oct. 11.
In its latest situational report released 6 a.m., the NDRRMC said three fatalities were noted in Mati City, three in Pantukan, and one in Davao City when magnitude 7.4 and 6.8 earthquakes jolted Manay, Davao Oriental at 9:43 a.m. and 7:12 p.m. on Oct. 10, respectively.
In Mati City, a 54-year-old woman was struck by a collapsed wall while two others died due to heart attack. Three people also perished after being buried at a collapsed mining site in Brgy. Kingking, Pantukan, Davao de Oro. The lone fatality in Davao City was an 80-year-old man who died after being pinned by a collapsed concrete wall.
An eighth fatality in Montevista, Davao de Oro was reported due to heart attack but it was not counted by the Office of Civil Defense in Davao Region (OCD-11).
“We were supposed to include the one in Montevista, Davao de Oro but clearly, according to local disaster officers, it’s not actually related to the earthquake,” OCD-11 Regional Director Ednar Dayanghirang said in Filipino during a radio interview with dzBB.
The municipality of Manay, where the epicenter of the quakes was recorded, has been placed under a state of calamity following widespread damage and displacement.
A total of 3,519 families composed of 8,436 individuals were affected in nine barangays in Davao Region and Caraga (Region 13).
It included 2,468 families or 7,915 individuals that were staying in seven evacuation centers in the two affected regions.
Civil Defense Administrator Usec. Harold Cabreros arrived in Davao city on Friday night, Oct. 10, to assess landslide-prone zones and infrastructure damage. He was scheduled to join an aerial survey and ground visit of the badly-hit areas including Manay, Tarragona, Mati City in Davao Oriental and Pantukan in Davao de Oro on Saturday.
“The mining area in Pantukan has very high susceptibility to landslides. Fortunately, it hasn’t been raining, so the ground is firm. There were still landslides, but not as severe as in previous disasters,” Dayanghirang added.
Authorities are also verifying reports of a chemical spill at San Pedro College in Davao City.
“We’re still waiting for the BFP’s confirmation because we’re not sure yet how extensive the spill is. We want to be certain before issuing statements,” Dayanghirang said.
The OCD-11 noted that hundreds were injured across several municipalities, from minor bruises and fainting due to panic to injuries caused by falling debris and landslides.
As of the latest reports, Manay recorded 92 people injured, including cases of hypertension and collapse due to panic. There were also seven totally damaged houses and 143 partially damaged homes. The Mahanob Bridge was not passable to all types of vehicles due to damage.
In Tarragona, which also sustained major impacts, there were 30 totally and six partially damaged houses. The Lucatan Bridge remains passable only to light vehicles after its approach was damaged.
In Mati City, there were 46 individuals injured, and seven schools sustained partial damage.
More than 200 individuals were also injured in other towns and cities such as Banaybanay, San Isidro, Lupon, Caraga, Boston, Governor Generoso, and Baganga.
“Manay may be the epicenter but the next town of Tarragona is where more houses were damaged, according to the mayor’s report, not in Manay. In fact, I observed that Tarragona sustained heavier damage than Manay. During our aerial inspection yesterday, a landslide also blocked a road there completely, but debris clearing was immediately completed,” Dayanghirang said.
Dayanghirang said most residents who evacuated during the tsunami warning issued by Phivolcs have since returned home after the alert was lifted.
“There are still evacuees, mostly those who lost their homes. But generally, people have gone back after the warning was terminated,” he said.
Dayanghirang said the OCD-11 continues to coordinate with local governments and national agencies for damage assessment, relief operations, and infrastructure clearing.