7.1-magnitude quake jolts Davao Occidental

BY NONOY E LACSON

ZAMBOANGA CITY – A 7.1-magnitude earthquake hit Jose Abad Santos town in Davao Occidental on Thursday night, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.

The earthquake, which was tectonic in origin, occurred at 8:23 p.m. and was traced 231 kilometers southeast of Jose Abad Santos, Phivolcs reported.

Aftershocks, ranging from magnitude 3.2 to 4.2, were recorded 18 times within 10 hours after the first earthquake.

The quake was also felt at Intensity 5 in General Santos City and Kiamba, Sarangani:

Intensity 4 in Davao City, parts of General Santos City, Alabel, Sarangani; Koronadal City and South Cotabato.

Intensity 3 was felt in Kidapawan, Bislig, Surigao del Sur, and Gingoog, Misamis Oriental.

Intensity 2 was recorded in Cagayan de Oro, Surigao City, Surigao del Norte, and Borongan in Eastern Samar; while Intensity 1 was logged in Catbalogan, Samar.

Jose Abad Santos town Mayor Jason John Joyce said on Thursday night that not a single damage was reported yet in his town.

“I am sending this message to everyone who was asking about the earthquake. We are okay. No damages reported as of yet. [We] will update,” Joyce said in a statement on Thursday evening.

Philvocs said there was no indication that a tsunami will hit the coastal towns of Davao Occidental in Mindanao. (Nonoy E. Lacson)