BUTUAN CITY – It may be considered mild based on official seismograph readings but the twin earthquakes that shook Surigao del Sur yesterday may lead people to connect the tremors to a dead rare fish discovered in the region.
In its bulletin, the Philippines Institute of Vocnology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said a 3.3 magnitude earthquake was recorded at 3:08 a.m. yesterday, with its epicenter located just one kilometer away northwest of Cagwait town and has a depth of 42 km.
A 2.3 magnitude tremor was also registered at 4:10 a.m. the same day, its epicenter traced eight kilometers southwest of nearby Carrascal town of the same province and has a depth of 106 km.
A few days ago, a 15-foot dead oarfish was washed ashore in Sarangani province, making people uneasy since the discovery.
Dozens of oarfish, which is known in Japan as “ryugu no tsukai” or “messenger from the sea god’s palace,” were reportedly found by Japanese fishermen before the occurrence of major earthquakes in the past.
A number of oarfish washed up ashore these past months in parts of Mindanao, triggering belief that they could be related to the recent series of earthquakes, among them the 6.7-magnitude temblor that hit Surigao City and the neighboring areas in February.
Parts of Lanao del Sur, Bukidnon, Davao Oriental, Davao del Sur and Davao Occidental provinces were hit by moderate to strong earthquakes since last week. (MIKE U. CRISMUNDO)
