Strong aftershocks struck offshore Manay, Davao Oriental on Tuesday morning, four days after the province was rocked by a doublet earthquake, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has reported.
The strongest aftershock was recorded at 10:00 a.m. on October 14 and was located 59 kilometers southeast of Manay at a depth of eight kilometers along the Philippine Trench.
It was felt in Tarragona, Davao Oriental as well as Bislig City, Surigao del Sur; Davao City; Digos, Davao del Sur; Malita and Santa Maria, Davao Occidental; Nabunturan, Davao de Oro; and Malungon Sarangani.
Minutes later, Phivolcs registered another aftershock about 27 kilometers from the epicenter. It was initially measured at magnitude 5.2, but was later downgraded to 4.9. Prior to that, a magnitude 4.7 aftershock occurred in almost the same spot.
Phivolcs Director Teresito Bacolcol said the tremors were aftershocks of last week’s powerful quakes—the magnitude 7.4 in the morning and the magnitude-6.8 in the evening—which were both caused by the movement of the Philippine Trench.
“It’s expected that there will be aftershocks after a big event. It just means that our rocks are still adjusting,” Bacolcol explained.
As of 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, the Phivolcs said it has already recorded a total of 1,310 from the Davao Oriental doublet earthquakes—at least 18 of these tremors were felt.
Meanwhile, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that more than 845,000 individuals—or about 200,000 families—have been affected by the twin earthquakes that struck Manay on October 10.
The magnitude 7.4 and 6.8 quakes displaced over 12,000 people, or roughly 3,000 families, who are currently staying in eight evacuation centers across Davao Region and Caraga. Another 192 individuals remain outside government shelters.
The NDRRMC also reported eight deaths and 403 injuries, though 380 of the cases are still being verified. A total of 2,575 houses and 273 infrastructure facilities were damaged in the affected areas.
Government aid worth ₱39 million has so far been distributed to 17,251 families, the agency said.
The Provincial Government of Davao Oriental reported it has so far received a total of P50.7-million in cash donations to aid its recovery efforts. Relief operations are ongoing in the province. Davao Oriental remains under a state of calamity.
