Dazed survivors in southern Philippines awoke on Saturday to widespread destruction after two powerful earthquakes, measuring 7.4 and 6.7 in magnitude, struck off the coast of Mindanao island on Friday. The tremors triggered hundreds of aftershocks that shook the region through the night, forcing many residents to sleep outside out of fear for their lives.

Philippine authorities reported at least eight people killed, with the full extent of the damage still being assessed.

In the municipality of Manay, home to around 40,000 people, residents began clearing debris and shattered glass from homes and buildings. “Our small house and our small store were destroyed,” resident Ven Lupogan told AFP.

❗️⚠️🇵🇭 - A 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck offshore in the southern Philippines on October 10, 2025, at a depth of 10 km (6 miles) off Manay town in Davao Oriental province, Mindanao region.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) warned of potential… pic.twitter.com/D6UiQA2Z6Z

— 🔥🗞The Informant (@theinformant_x) October 10, 2025

“We have nowhere to sleep. There’s no electricity. We have nothing to eat." Tents, tarps, hammocks, and vehicles became makeshift shelters for families afraid to return indoors as aftershocks continued to ripple across the region of 1.8 million people.

The Manay government hospital was heavily damaged in the quake, prompting the evacuation of patients who were treated outside under emergency conditions, as government engineers had deemed the building structurally compromised.

Local shopkeepers tried to restore a sense of normalcy, sweeping up debris and restocking shelves. However, many residents, like Vilma Lagnayo, faced the harsh reality of having lost everything. “Reconstructing our home is difficult now… Money is a problem,” she said.

Over 800 aftershocks recorded as region remains on edge

The Philippine seismology agency reported over 800 aftershocks since the initial quake struck. Authorities warned these could persist for weeks due to the complex network of faults running through the region.

In Mati, about two hours southwest of Manay, families carried out funeral rites amid the chaos. Margarita Mulle and her relatives held a wake for her sister despite tsunami warnings that had since been lifted. “In case something happens, they will carry the body using a ‘tora-tora’,” she said, referring to a local cart pulled by a hand tractor.

6. A 7.6M earthquake struck near Davao City, Philippines, triggering tsunami warnings and mass evacuations. #lindol #sismo_deprem_gempa

Waves up to 3 meters may impact coastal areas. Local authorities urge residents to stay alert. pic.twitter.com/dbONlJUv5x

— GeoTechWar (@geotechwar) October 10, 2025

Earthquakes are frequent in the Philippines, which lies along the Pacific "Ring of Fire", a zone of intense seismic and volcanic activity. The latest tremors come less than two weeks after a 6.9-magnitude quake hit Cebu, killing 75 and damaging over 70,000 homes.

The deadliest quake in Philippine history occurred in 1976, when an 8.0-magnitude quake off Mindanao’s southwest coast triggered a tsunami that killed or left missing around 8,000 people.

As aftershocks continue and families remain displaced, communities across Mindanao are bracing for what may come next.