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A composite image of the damage to the centuries-old Santa Rosa de Lima Church, which was hit by a 6.9 magnitude earthquake in Cebu on Sept. 30, 2025. (Photo courtesy of the Archdiocesan Shrine of Santa Rosa de Lima)
MANILA, Philippines — Areas located along the country’s six active trenches could experience earthquakes of up to magnitude 8.2, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) Director Teresito Bacolcol said Tuesday.
In an interview with the Philippine News Agency, Bacolcol identified the six active trenches as the Philippine Trench (located from East Luzon to Southeast Mindanao), East Luzon Trough, Manila Trench, Negros Trench, Sulu Trench, and Cotabato Trench.
His warning came a day after a magnitude 7.8 offshore earthquake generated by the Cotabato Trench jolted parts of Mindanao. Bacolcol said the quake was the strongest recorded in the Philippines so far this year.
