Coastal evacuations and aftershocks follow a magnitude 7.4 quake, killing one and causing minor damage.
MANILA: Residents in the southern Philippines began returning to their homes on Sunday (Dec 3) following a magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck the region, claiming one life and causing minor infrastructure damage.
The earthquake, which struck on Saturday night, affected areas in Surigao Del Sur and Davao Oriental provinces, triggering evacuations and tsunami warnings in both the Philippines and Japan. A woman in Tagum city, Davao del Norte, lost her life when a wall collapsed as she and her family fled their home for safety, according to disaster official Mon Cabonilas.
Authorities lifted the tsunami alert after the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) announced that the threat had largely passed but advised continued caution in affected areas.
In Carrascal, Surigao del Sur, evacuees were permitted to return home, with local disaster officials maintaining readiness for potential re-evacuations. Over 600 aftershocks were recorded, including one as strong as magnitude 6.5, prompting warnings for continued vigilance.
The Philippine Coast Guard deployed vessels and aircraft for potential emergency response, while reports of damage included small cracks in homes, regional airport tiles, and hotel walls. Power was restored early Sunday in areas like Bislig, where residents described their lingering fear of ongoing aftershocks.
“We returned home early Sunday, but aftershocks are still shaking us,” said Julita Bicap, a hotel employee in Bislig, who noted minor cracks in her hotel’s front wall.
The earthquake, striking at a depth of 25 kilometers (15 miles), caused waves up to 0.64 meters high in Hinatuan-Bislig Bay and smaller waves off Japan’s Hachijojima island, according to Japanese and Philippine meteorological agencies. Initial warnings had suggested waves up to 3 meters above high tide, but these did not materialize.
The Philippines, located on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” experiences frequent seismic activity, with this latest quake serving as a reminder of the region’s vulnerability.
