BUTUAN CITY – Residents in Northeastern Mindanao or Caraga region were roused from their sleep by powerful 5.8-magnitude earthquake early Tuesday morning, July 28.
The tremor, which struck at 1:32 a.m., reportedly awakened some residents, who rushed out to the streets or open spaces to seek safety.
The dawn temblor was felt in all the five provinces and six cities in Caraga region and other neighboring areas in Mindanao.
As of 7 a.m. Tuesday, the different provincial disaster risk reduction and management councils (PDRRMCs) in various provinces and cities have yet to report any damage or injury because of the earthquake.
The regional office of the Caraga Office of Civil Defense (OCD) was still awaiting reports from the different PDRRMCs in the region.
In its bulletin, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the 5.8-magnitude quake was registered at 1:32 a.m., with the epicenter plotted 21 kilometers (kms) southeast of Bayabas town, Surigao del Sur province.
The tremor had a depth of 40 kms, Phivolcs said.
Intensity IV was registered in the town proper of Bayabas, Bislig City, in the municipalities of Cagwait, Hinatuan, and City of Tandag, all of Surigao del Sur and Butuan city and Intensity III was also recorded in the City of Surigao, Surigao del Norte; City of Gingoog, Magsaysay, and Medina, Misamis Oriental while Intensity II in Balingasag, Jasaan, Salay, Tagoloan, and Villanueva, Misamis Oriental; and City of Cagayan de Oro and Intensity I in Mambajao, Camiguin.
In its Instrumental Intensities, Phivolcs also reported that Intensity III was registered in Bislig City, Surigao del Sur; City of Gingoog, Misamis Oriental and Intensity II - City of Surigao, Surigao del Norte; City of Cagayan de Oro; Palo, Leyte; Alabel, and Malungon, Sarangani while Intensity I in the City of Kidapawan, Cotabato; City of Koronadal, and Tupi, South Cotabato.
The earthquake was tectonic in origin and the state agency was not expecting damage. But the agency was expecting aftershocks.
No tsunami alert was raised by the Phivolcs.
The Surigao del Sur PDRRMC there reported no damage or injury.
However, Surigao del Sur Gov. Alexander Pimentel immediately mobilized its rescue teams of the PDRRMC to check the status of the residents, particularly those in coastal areas.