Tsunami alert after 6.9-magnitude Davao Oriental quake

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) has issued Tsunami Information No. 1 following a magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck offshore Davao Oriental at 7:12 p.m. on Friday, 10 October.

In a video announcement, OCD Deputy Administrator for Administration Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV cited data from the Local Tsunami Scenario Database, stating that wave heights exceeding 1 meter above normal tides are expected. These waves could be higher in enclosed bays and straits.

“A destructive tsunami is expected, with life-threatening wave heights,” Alejandro warned.

The OCD forecasts that the first tsunami waves may arrive between 7:12 p.m. and 9:12 p.m. tonight and may continue for several hours.

“These waves may continue for hours,” Alejandro added.

The OCD has strongly advised residents in coastal communities of Surigao del Sur, Davao Oriental, and Surigao del Norte to immediately evacuate to higher ground or move further inland.

Alejandro called for public cooperation, urging affected communities to “proceed to their respective evacuation points.”