A powerful magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck offshore Manay, Davao Oriental, on Friday morning was also felt across parts of Bohol province, prompting brief panic and precautionary evacuations.
According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), the tremor occurred at 9:43 a.m. with a depth of 10 kilometers. The quake’s strong ground motion was felt in several areas of the Visayas, including Bohol.
In Tagbilaran City, anxious parents rushed to schools to fetch their children, while in Guindulman town, classes were suspended and students were sent home as a safety measure.
At the Bohol Provincial Capitol, employees and guests attending the State of the Province Address (Sopa) of Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado on the fourth floor were advised to vacate the building. After structural checks confirmed there was no visible damage, they were allowed to return inside.
Phivolcs warned that aftershocks and possible damage may follow the strong quake as monitoring continues