BUTUAN CITY – The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and the Southern Mindanao Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council are monitoring damage from the magnitude-6.7 earthquake that rocked Davao Occidental on Tuesday, January 9.
PEOPLE were roused from their sleep by a magnitude-6.7 earthquake in Davao Occidental on January 9. (Phivolcs)
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported no tsunami threat from the tremor but warned of aftershocks.
It said the earthquake was recorded at 4:48 a.m. and its epicenter was 183 kilometers (kms) southeast of Balut Island in the municipality of Sarangani, Davao Occidental.
The earthquake had a depth of 94 kms, Phivolcs said, and was caused by the Philippine Trench.
The earthquake was recorded at Intensity IV in Glan, Malungon, and Kiamba, Sarangani; Intensity III in General Santos City, Koronadal City, Tupi, Polomolok, and T'boli, South Cotabato; Alabel and Malapatan, Sarangani, and Matalam, Cotabato; Intensity II in Tampakan, Tantangan, Banga, Norala, Santo Niño, Surallah, and Lake Sebu, South Cotabato; Zamboanga City, Maitum, Sarangani, Kidapawan City, Makilala, M'lang, Pigcawayan, Tulunan, and Kabacan, North Cotabato, and President Quirino, Sultan Kudarat, and Intensity I in Cagayan de Oro City, Maasim, Sarangani; Arakan, Cotabato, and Isulan, Sultan Kudarat.
Phivolcs recorded the earthquake in instrumental intensity at Intensity IV in Malungon, Alabel, Kiamba, and Glan, Sarangani; Intensity III in Koronadal City, Tupi, and T'boli, South Cotabato; Malapatan, Sarangani, Nabunturan, Davao de Oro, Don Marcelino, Davao Occidental, Digos City, Davao del Sur, and Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental; Intensity II in Banga, Norala, Lake Sebu, Santo Niño, Tantangan, and Tampakan, South Cotabato; Maitum and Malungon, Sarangani; Columbio, President Quirino, Lambayong, Lebak, and Esperanza, Sultan Kudarat; Davao City, Magsaysay and Matanao, Davao del Sur; Zamboanga City, San Fernando, Bukidnon; and Kidapawan City, North Cotabato, and Intensity I in Malaybalay, Kadilingan, and Kalilangan, Bukidnon; Banisilan, Carmen, Magpet, and President Roxas, Cotabato; Balingasag, Misamis Oriental, Bagumbayan, Isulan, Sultan Kudarat, and Bislig City, in Surigao del Sur.
The tremor was also felt in the Caraga region, particularly Butuan City.
Hours later at 9:08 a.m., a magnitude-4.4 tectonic earthquake rocked Davao Occidental and its epicenter was 106 kms southeast of Balut Island with a depth of 34 kms, Phivolcs said.