Philippines: more than 100,000 people affected by earthquake in Davao Oriental
On 10 October, a 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck the province of Davao Oriental in the Philippines. The epicentre was located near the municipality of Manay, and since then more than 800 aftershocks have been recorded, some of them exceeding magnitude 6. The emergency has left more than 100,000 people affected, thousands of homes damaged and entire communities displaced.
Housing affected by the earthquake in Davao Oriental
Aftershocks continue and tsunami warnings have forced thousands of people to seek refuge in higher ground.
Many families have lost their homes and others have abandoned them for fear of further landslides. In total, more than 11,000 people remain displaced, many living in open spaces, on roads or in makeshift evacuation centres. Damage to critical infrastructure—such as hospitals, schools, water and electricity systems—is hampering medical care, access to drinking water and communication.
Teams are present in the areas affected by the earthquake
The situation is particularly serious in the municipalities of Manay, Mati, Cateel, Tarragona, Lupon and Governor Generoso.
Our response
Action Against Hunger has deployed its rapid assessment team to Davao Oriental to coordinate with local authorities and other humanitarian actors. We are ready to activate our rapid response mechanism and have water, sanitation and hygiene kits pre-positioned in Manila and Cotabato.
The most urgent needs include:
- Drinking water and hygiene kits.
- Temporary shelter for displaced families.
- Medical care and psychosocial support.
- Repair of basic infrastructure.
- Protection for the most vulnerable groups.
The situation remains critical. Aftershocks, landslides and collapsed structures threaten to further exacerbate the emergency. Many families do not know when they will be able to return home, or whether it will be safe to do so.
At Action Against Hunger, we continue to work to ensure that aid reaches those who need it most. Because in an emergency, every minute counts.
