(Eagle News) – A magnitude 7.1 quake hit waters off Davao Occidental on Thursday night, Jan. 21, but was felt at lower intensities in surrounding areas because it occurred at a significant depth.
In a bulletin issued by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), it said that the tremor happened at 8:23 p.m. Thursday, with the epicenter located in waters 231 kilometers southeast of Jose Abad Santos in Davao Occidental. The bulletin was later revised by Phivolcs with the quake’s epicenter listed as 244 kilometers southeast of Jose Abad Santos town.
Initially, Phivolcs reported the quake at a depth of 116 kilometers, which it then revised to 111 kilometers.
The quake was felt at Intensity 5 in General Santos City, at Intensity 4 in Davao City, and at Intensity 2 in Bislig City, Surigao del Sur.
Phivolcs later issued a bulletin showing more areas were the quake was felt. They are the following:
Intensity V – General Santos City; Kiamba, Glan, Maitum, & Malungon, Sarangani
Intensity IV – Mati City; Davao City; Cotabato City; Digos City; Sta Cruz, Davao del Sur; Alabel, Maasim, & Malapatan, Sarangani;
Tagum City, Davao Del Norte; Koronadal City, Tupi, Lake Sebu, Banga & Polomolok, South Cotabato
Intensity III – San Francisco, Southern Leyte; Datu Blah T. Sinsuat, Maguindanao; Zamboanga City; Cagayan De Oro City;
Tandag City, Surigao Del Sur; Sto Niño, South Cotabato
Intensity II – City of Bislig, Surigao del Sur; Talakag, Kalilangan, Baungon, Malitbog, Don Carlos, Valencia City and Maramag, Bukidnon; Camiguin Island;
Kidapawan City; Baybay City, Leyte; Taguloan, Jasaan, Balingansag, Balingoan, Magsaysay and Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental
Meanwhile, the following are the recorded instrumental Intensities for the quake:
Intensity V – Kiamba, Sarangani
Intensity IV – City of General Santos; Alabel, Sarangani; Koronadal City, South Cotabato
Intensity III – City of Kidapawan City of Bislig, Surigao del Sur; City of Gingoog, Misamis Oriental
Intensity II – City of Cagayan de Oro; City of Surigao, Surigao del Norte; City of Borongan, Eastern Samar
Intensity I – City of Catbalogan, Samar
Phivolcs said it is expecting aftershocks, but no damages.
The agency also assured that there was no tsunami threat because the quake occurred quite deep into the earth. However, because of its depth (116 kilometers), it would also be felt in more areas but at lower intensities.
(Eagle News Service)
