MATI CITY, Davao Oriental (MindaNews / 7 January) — A 6.4 magnitude earthquake rocked Davao Oriental on Wednesday, January 7 at 11:02 AM, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported.
Phivolcs reported that the epicenter of the offshore earthquake is some 58 kilometers east of Manay town with a depth of 28 kilometers.
No tsunami warning has been issued as of this posting.
Phivolcs reported the strength of the earthquake in the following areas as follows:
- Intensity 5 – Manay, Davao Oriental ;Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur; Talacogon, Agusan del Sur
- Intensity 4 – City of Bislig and Cagwait, Surigao del Sur; Tarragona and Cateel, Davao Oriental
- Intensity 3 – City of Tandag, Surigao del Sur; Boston and Baganga, Davao Oriental; Claver, Surigao del Norte
- Intensity 2- Davao City; General Santos City; as well as in the cities of Butuan and Baybay; and in Palo, Leyte, Hinundayan, San Juan, and San Francisco, Southern Leyte.
Classes in both public and private schools, as well as work in government offices, have been suspended in Manay town following Wednesday’s 6.4 earthquake.
The suspensions were implemented following an executive order from the Office of the Municipal Mayor which justified the said precautionary measures as necessary to ensure the safety of students, teachers, government personnel, and the general public, particularly in areas with vulnerable structures” despite the “low magnitude” earthquake.
Classes will be suspended until n January 8.
Work in all government offices is suspended on January 7, 2026, except for offices performing emergency, disaster response, health, peace and order, and other essential services.
The local government is also set to implement “skeletal workforce” on January 8 for all government offices, except offices rendering essential services.
According to the EO, the suspensions “allow the appropriate offices and the Rapid Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis (RDANA) Team to conduct inspections and monitoring of public and private buildings, school facilities, and other critical infrastructure within the municipality.”
This is the latest earthquake to hit Manay town which was jolted by two major earthquakes last October 10, 2025, with magnitudes of 7.4 and 6.8, which triggered a tsunami advisory.
According to a Phivolcs primer released following the October 2025 twin earthquakes, Davao Oriental and neighboring provinces are situated in one of the seismically active regions in the country. Among the earthquake sources are the Philippine Trench and the Philippine Fault’s East Compostela Valley, West Compostela Valley, Central Compostela Valley, Nabunturan, Caraga River, and Mati Segments4. There are also local inland and offshore faults, some concealed by recent deposits, capable of generating earthquakes ranging from minor to strong magnitudes.
The Phivolcs primer said aftershocks in the epicentral area could persist for several days to weeks, and some may be felt in nearby provinces. (Razl EJ Teman / MindaNews)
