[WFP] Rapid Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis (RDANA): Magnitude (MW) 7.4 and 6.8 Earthquakes in Eastern Mindanao, Philippines – 10 October 2025

Executive Summary

On 10 October 2025, two powerful earthquakes struck the eastern seaboard of Mindanao. The first quake measured 7.4 magnitude at a depth of 23 km, followed 10 hours later by a 6.8 magnitude tremor with a 37-km depth. The shaking reached Intensity VI (strong, felt by all) in the municipality of Manay.

Within 24 hours, over 820 aftershocks were recorded, some reaching magnitude 6.0. Strong tremors continue to be felt across the country, including in Cebu (Central Visayas), Surigao del Sur (Caraga), and Zambales (Central Luzon).

As of 15 October, nearly 1.2 million people in Caraga and Davao regions have been impacted, with over 2,850 sheltering in evacuation centres or with relatives. Eight deaths and 403 injuries have been reported. Schools, government, private facilities, churches, and thousands of houses were damaged.

The back-to-back quakes struck while the country is still reeling from the impacts of the 6.9 magnitude Cebu earthquake on 30 September, and four consecutive storms, including super typhoon Nando, from mid-September to early October. Combined, these natural hazards have impacted over 7 million people.

These shocks come amid the looming threat of intensified rainfall in the coming months. On the same day the earthquakes struck, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration confirmed the presence of La Niña conditions in the tropical Pacific. This raises the likelihood of above-normal rainfall from October 2025 to February 2026, particularly along the country’s eastern seaboard. The heightened precipitation also increases the risk of tropical cyclones and overlapping rain-bearing systems, which may trigger floods, flash floods, and rain-induced landslides in vulnerable areas.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), through its field offices and the Disaster Response Management Bureau (DRMB), swiftly activated emergency protocols to deliver life-saving assistance. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council activated response clusters. Under this status, the Office of Civil Defense oversees logistics and early recovery, while DSWD handles food aid, camp management, and protection of displaced persons. Working in close coordination with local government units (LGUs), DSWD facilitated the distribution of food and non-food items, managed
evacuation centers, and deployed disaster response vehicles such as mobile command centers and mobile—aligned with the President’s directive to safeguard communities impacted by the disaster.

To aid early recovery efforts, DSWD started to implement Emergency Cash Transfer (ECT) assistance, providing immediate financial relief to help families meet their most pressing needs and begin rebuilding
their lives.

Davao Oriental is now under a state of calamity, allowing LGUs to tap Quick Response Funds. Municipal Incident Command Posts and Barangay Operations Centers are active, with ongoing efforts focused
on food distribution, housing damage documentation, facility assessments, and inter-agency support including the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS).

Upon the request of the Government, WFP has supported the ongoing emergency response. Among the assistance provided were:

• Logistics equipment: In coordination with the DSWD and OCD, WFP continues to provide logistics support. WFP deployed the following assets from its warehouse in Polloc, Maguindanao to Davao Region: i) 2 mobile storage units (MSUs) and 1 generator set.

• Technical support: WFP staff is assisting government responders with the installation of the MSUs. Each MSU can securely store 500 mt of relief items (or 22,500 FFPs that can serve 112,500 people). WFP continues to work with DSWD and OCD to align the transport plan based on emerging needs.