A magnitude-6.5 earthquake shook the coast off Mati, Davao Oriental yesterday morning.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said the earthquake occurred at around 6:53 a.m.
It was felt at Intensity 5 in Mati, Davao City, Tagum, Samal, and Baganga in Davao Oriental.
It was Intensity 4 in General Santos City; Alabel, Glan, and Malapatan in Sarangani; Polomolok, South Cotabato; Butuan City, Gov. Generoso and Cateel in Davao Oriental; Digos City, Davao del Sur; Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental; Braulio Dujali, Davao del Norte; and Talacogon, Agusan del Sur.
Parts of South Cotabato, Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental, Bukidnon, Sultan Kudarat, and Davao del Sur felt the earthquake at Intensity 3 while Kidapawan and Makilala in South Cotabato felt the tremor at Intensity 2.
The epicenter of the earthquake of tectonic origin was located 41 kilometers south of Mati and had a depth of 42 kilometers.
No deaths or injuries were caused by the quake as of press time.
In Davao City, Central 911 chief Emmanuel Jaldon said the agency was monitoring the effects of the quake and received no calls regarding the tremor.
The National Grid Corp. said in an advisory that its transmission lines were not affected. “NGCP’s power transmission services remain normal,” NGCP head of corporate communications Bambie Capulong said.
“The grid remains intact as there had been no reported cases of power interruptions and damaged transmission facilities in the South Mindanao area,” she said.
Phivolcs warned the public of aftershocks from the earthquake. “Aftershocks are expected, given the earthquake’s magnitude,” said Hermes Daquipa, Phivolcs science research specialist.
Not all aftershocks will be felt but communities concerned must still be alert and prepare for these accordingly, Daquipa said. (YAS D. OCAMPO)
