Magnitude 7.4 quake in Mindanao jolts Iloilo, Negros Occidental

By Mariela Angella Oladive and Glazyl M. Jopson

Residents of Iloilo and Negros Occidental reported tremors and precautionary suspensions of work and classes on Friday morning, Oct. 10, after a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck offshore Davao Oriental, days after the Sept. 30 Bogo City, Cebu quake also sent shaking across the region.

The strong quake prompted both the Iloilo Provincial Government and Iloilo City Hall to suspend work to allow safety inspections of buildings and government facilities.

Governor Arthur “Toto” Defensor Jr. and Mayor Raisa Treñas-Chu said the suspension was necessary to ensure safety and the structural integrity of public offices.

Treñas-Chu also suspended classes at all levels in the city, while Defensor allowed the mayors of the 42 towns and one component city in the province to decide on class suspensions in their areas.

Several regional offices of national government agencies also suspended work for the day.

The tremor was felt at Intensity III in Iloilo City, with no major damage or injuries reported as of writing.

According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, the quake struck at 9:43 a.m., with an offshore epicenter located 48 kilometers northeast of Manay, Davao Oriental, at an estimated depth of 23 kilometers.

PHIVOLCS issued a tsunami warning for coastal areas in Davao Oriental, Davao de Oro, Surigao del Sur, and nearby provinces, urging residents to move to higher ground or farther inland.

In Davao Oriental, at least three people were confirmed dead, according to Governor Nelson Dayanghirang.

One victim was hit by a collapsing wall, while two others reportedly suffered cardiac arrests during the quake, and all deaths were recorded in the City of Mati.

Dayanghirang said evacuations and damage assessments were ongoing, with help from national government agencies already arriving in affected areas.

Initial inspections showed damaged houses, bridges, and government buildings, while power outages were reported due to toppled electric poles.

PHIVOLCS continues to monitor aftershocks and potential tsunami activity, reminding the public to stay alert and follow advisories from local disaster response offices.

In Bacolod City, face-to-face classes at all levels were suspended on Friday following the magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck Davao Oriental at 9:43 a.m.

Mayor Greg Gasataya advised schools to shift to modular distance learning and to utilize performance tasks and projects to ensure continued learning despite the suspension.

The decision was based on the recommendation of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and the Department of Education Bacolod Division after tremors were felt in parts of the city.

In Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, the quake also prompted evacuations at City Hall and Kabankalan Catholic College.

The school likewise suspended in-person classes to prioritize the safety of students and staff.

On Tuesday, a magnitude 5.1 quake hit Sipalay City at around 8:04 a.m., causing minor structural damage to two schools and some government buildings.

The municipality of Toboso also experienced a series of earthquakes on Monday night.

This tremor follows a series of shaking after a magnitude 6.9 quake in Bogo City, Cebu, on Sept. 30.

Meanwhile, 130 families or 375 individuals were evacuated following flooding in parts of Bacolod due to heavy rains brought by Typhoon Quedan on Thursday night.

The evacuees included one family each in Barangays 1, 10, Montevista, and Taculing; six families in Barangay 9; 28 families in Barangay Banago; 15 families in Barangay Estefania; nine families in Barangay Mandalagan; and 68 families in Barangay Villamonte.

The city government reported that 14 homes were partially damaged, and two homes each were totally damaged in Barangays Banago and Villamonte.

A total of 1,500 residents were affected in Barangay Mandalagan after floodwater reached three to five feet, but only 45 persons evacuated, while in Barangay Montevista only six persons or one family evacuated out of 70 families affected, and the evacuees decamped by 2 p.m. on Friday.

Photos and videos circulated on social media showed flooded areas and Bureau of Fire Protection–Bacolod rescuers assisting stranded individuals in front of a shopping mall in Barangay Mandalagan.

An electrical post fell along 8th Lacson Streets, and no casualties were reported.

The heavy rainfall also prompted the municipality of E.B. Magalona to suspend classes on Friday.