DAVAO CITY – A magnitude-7.2 earthquake rocked a large swath of Mindanao on Friday afternoon, November 17.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said the epicenter of the 4:14 p.m. earthquake was 30 kilometers southwest of Sarangani, Davao Occidental.
The tectonic quake had a depth of 10 kilometers.
Different instrumental intensities were felt.
Intensity 8 was felt in Glan, Sarangani and General Santos City in South Cotabato.
Intensity 5 was felt in Matanao, Davao del Sur, Maasim and Malapatan in Sarangani, Lake Sebu, Tampakan, Polomolok, and Banga in South Cotabato.
Intensity 4 in Kidapawan City, Cotabato, Magsaysay, and Davao City in Davao del Sur, Don Marcelino and Jose Abad Santos in Davao Occidental, Kiamba and Maitum in Sarangani, Norala and Tantangan in South Cotabato, and President Quirino, Lebak, Isulan, Esperanza, Columbio, and Kalamansig in Sultan Kudarat.
Phivolcs said damages are expected and cautioned the public about possible aftershocks.
The agency said that there is no tsunami threat due to the earthquake. However, it said that earthquakes of this size may generate unusual sea level disturbances that may be observed along coasts near the earthquake epicenter of Davao Occidental.
“No destructive tsunami threat exists based on available sea-level data. This is for information purposes only and there is no tsunami threat to the Philippines from this earthquake,” it said.