Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. said the moderately strong earthquakes felt in various parts of the Philippines on Saturday, Aug. 13 is a “normal” occurrence as the country records around 20 earthquakes daily.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) on Saturday recorded a 5.9-magnitude earthquake in Datu Blah T. Sinsuat, Maguindanao and 5.1-magnitude earthquake in Anini-y, Antique.
“They were generated by different earthquake generators. The magnitude 5.1 earthquake was generated by the Negros Trench, while the magnitude 5.9 earthquake was generated by the Cotabato Trench,” Solidum said in a text message.
Phivolcs also detected on Saturday a 4.4-magnitude earthquake in Merida, Leyte.
On the average, around 20 earthquakes daily are recorded by Phivolcs all over the country, but some of them are too weak to be felt.
Earthquakes are frequent in the Philippines because of several active faults surrounding or crisscrossing the country.
The Philippines is situated in a tectonically active region called "Pacific Ring of Fire," where many earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur.