By Mike Crismundo
BUTUAN CITY - Two mild earthquakes jolted Surigao del Sur province anew on Monday, July 15, 2019, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.
(MANILA BULLETIN)
In its bulletin, Phivolcs said a 2.8 magnitude earthquake was registered at 7:13 a.m. on Monday (July 15).
The epicenter was plotted 29 kilometers (km) northeast of Hinatuan town, Surigao del Sur.
The tremor had a depth of only 16 km., the agency said.
Earlier, at 1:52 a.m., a 2.7 magnitude earthquake was also recorded and its epicenter was traced 11 km. southwest of nearby Carrascal town of that same province, with a shallow depth of only 6 km., Phivolcs said.
The two tremors were tectonic in origin, it said.
On Saturday, a powerful 5.5 magnitude tectonic tremor was also recorded at 4:42 a.m. and its epicenter was pinpointed only 7 km of Carrascal town of that same province, with a shallow depth of only 4 km.
At least 42 people have been injured, 206 households were affected, and 46 establishments damaged when the early morning earthquake struck the northeastern part of the province.
Meanwhile, a 4.5 magnitude tectonic earthquake was also registered at 8:16 a.m. on Sunday (July 14). The epicenter was traced 30 km. northwest of Pacific Ocean facing town of Burgos, Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte province, with a depth of 25 km, Phivolcs said.
The state agency reported no damage or injury.
The Philippines lies in the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” where colliding plates in the earth’s crust cause frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity.