In the early hours of October 10, 2025, the people of Davao Oriental, a province in the southern Philippines, were jolted awake by a powerful magnitude 7.4 earthquake. As if that weren’t enough, a second major quake—this one measuring 6.8—struck just twelve hours later, shaking the same region and deepening the unfolding crisis. According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), the devastating “doublet earthquake” affected more than 125,000 families, or roughly 491,000 individuals, across Davao Oriental and the neighboring Caraga Region. The tremors left a trail of destruction, loss, and uncertainty in their wake, rippling through communities already familiar with the unpredictable nature of life along the Pacific "Ring of Fire."
As reported by the Inquirer on October 12, the NDRRMC’s 6 a.m. assessment painted a sobering picture. Of the 491,258 people impacted, 1,939 families—or 8,440 individuals—sought refuge in 14 evacuation centers. Another 52 families, totaling 192 people, were assisted outside these centers. Davao Region itself accounted for 66,366 affected families (280,868 people), while Caraga Region saw 58,917 families (210,390 people) grappling with the aftermath.
Tragically, the death toll climbed to at least eight, with three fatalities reported in Mati City—including a woman crushed by a collapsed wall—two miners lost in Pantukan town, and one death each in Davao City and Tarragona, according to the national disaster agency and local officials cited by The Star. The number of injured soared past 300, with most suffering trauma, bruises, and minor wounds from falling debris. Many others, especially students who were at school during the first quake at 9:43 a.m., were treated for hyperventilation and fainting—a stark reminder of the psychological toll such disasters can exact.
For many, the ordeal was compounded by the fear of a tsunami. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) issued tsunami warnings after both undersea earthquakes, which struck from the same fault line southeast of Manay, Davao Oriental. While the warnings were later canceled, the mere possibility sent coastal residents scrambling for higher ground. The aftershocks didn’t help calm nerves either: Phivolcs recorded more than 790 aftershocks in the days following the doublet, keeping communities on edge.
This pair of quakes, which Phivolcs classified as a "doublet earthquake," involved two main shocks with only a slight difference in magnitude, hitting nearly the same area within hours. The first, a magnitude 7.4, struck 62 kilometers southeast of Manay at 9:43 a.m.; the second, a magnitude 6.9 (reported in some sources as 6.8), was traced 36 kilometers southeast of Manay at 7:12 p.m. The back-to-back nature of the disaster complicated rescue and relief efforts, as emergency responders braced for further tremors while tending to the wounded and searching for survivors.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., addressing the nation, acknowledged the scale of the disaster and pledged swift action: "The potential damage is being assessed and rescue teams and relief operations are being prepared and would be deployed when it was safe to do so." His words echoed the resolve of a country all too familiar with natural calamities. Just over a week earlier, a 6.9-magnitude earthquake had rattled Cebu province, killing at least 74 people and injuring 559—a grim reminder of the Philippines’ seismic vulnerability. The archipelago sits squarely on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," a region notorious for its frequent and sometimes catastrophic earthquakes. In fact, around 90% of the world’s earthquakes occur within this volatile belt, and the Philippines has seen its share of devastation, including the 1990 Luzon quake that claimed more than 2,400 lives.
The human cost of the Davao quakes was compounded by widespread property and infrastructure damage. The NDRRMC reported that 2,155 houses were damaged across Davao and Caraga, leaving families without shelter and compounding their woes. Schools and hospitals were not spared—some buildings suffered structural damage, while others lost power, forcing evacuations and disrupting essential services. In total, 273 infrastructures were affected, with losses estimated at over 100 million Philippine pesos (about $1.76 million).
Relief efforts quickly mobilized, with Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian assuring residents of government support. "The agency has more than 100,000 boxes of family food packs across various warehouses in Davao Region," he announced in a press conference, as reported by the Inquirer. Gatchalian added that coordination was underway with Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon and the Philippine Red Cross to establish temporary shelters for displaced families. "He coordinated with the Philippine Red Cross and the agency and Red Cross will help in building temporary shelters for the families whose houses were damaged and are in need of temporary shelters," Gatchalian said. By Sunday, over 26.5 million pesos in assistance had been distributed to more than 70,000 families—an impressive sum, but one that underscores the scale of need.
For many survivors, the days following the quakes have been a blur of uncertainty, exhaustion, and resilience. Families sifted through the rubble of their homes in search of cherished belongings, while others lined up for food, water, and medical care. Children, shaken by the experience, clung to their parents as aftershocks rattled the ground beneath their feet. The psychological scars may linger long after the debris is cleared and the headlines fade.
As the Davao region and its neighbors begin the arduous process of recovery, the doublet earthquake serves as a stark reminder of the Philippines’ ongoing struggle with natural disasters. It also highlights the critical importance of preparedness, robust infrastructure, and coordinated emergency response. With the memory of past tragedies still fresh and the threat of future quakes ever-present, officials and residents alike are left to ponder: How can a nation so often tested by nature’s fury best protect its people and rebuild stronger than before?
For now, the focus remains on caring for the displaced, restoring essential services, and helping communities regain a sense of normalcy. But as the aftershocks subside and the dust settles, the lessons learned from Davao’s doublet earthquake will no doubt shape the country’s approach to disaster management in the years to come.