A magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck offshore of Davao Oriental, Mindanao at 9:43 a.m. on October 10, 2025, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS). The event prompted a tsunami warning for several coastal areas including Eastern Samar, Dinagat Islands, Davao Oriental, Southern Leyte, Surigao Del Norte, Surigao Del Sur, and Leyte.
The Office of Civil Defense and other Philippine government disaster management agencies are currently assessing the situation and deploying first responders. The U.S. Embassy stated it is monitoring developments in coordination with Philippine authorities.
As a result of the earthquake and tsunami warning, the Customer Service Center in Davao that handles general American Citizen Services (ACS) and visa queries is offline. However, the American Citizens Services section in Manila and Consular Agency in Cebu remain fully operational.
Residents within the affected tsunami warning zones have been advised to evacuate to higher ground or move farther inland immediately. The embassy's advisory states: "Residents in the tsunami warning areas are strongly advised to immediately evacuate to higher grounds or move farther inland. Refrain from activities like swimming, surfing, fishing, and boating." It further instructs people to "Follow instructions from local officials, which may include closing beaches, evacuating low-lying areas, harbors and marinas, or moving ships to deeper water if safe to do so."
People living in these regions are also urged to exercise caution during seismic activity by staying away from glass windows and heavy objects that could cause injury. They are encouraged to monitor updates from local media outlets as well as PHIVOLCS for ongoing information about the situation.
For additional guidance or emergency assistance, U.S. citizens can contact the U.S. Embassy in Manila or enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) for alerts related to their safety while traveling.