5.6, 5.7-magnitude quakes hit Southern PHL

Friday, 04 March 2011 13:30 Ivy Jean Vibar

Two strong tectonic earthquakes shook Mindanao yesterday, damaging some homes and causing panic among residents.

A 5.6-magnitude shaker was recorded southeast of General Santos City at 8:52 p.m. Not much damage was reported, as the epicenter was offshore.

Intensity III-Compostela Valley; Malita, Davao del Sur
Intensity II - Davao City
Intensity I - General Santos City

Afterwards, at 11:11 p.m., a 5.7-magnitude quake was also felt southeast of Surigao City.

Intensity VI - Carrascal, Surigao del Sur; Cantilan, Surigao Del Sur
Intensity V - Claver, Surigao del Norte
Intensity III - Butuan City; Buenavista, Agusan del Sur; Socorro & Mainit, Surigao del Norte
Intensity II - Surigao City; Bislig City
Intensity I - Cagayan De Oro City

Some homes were damaged by the quake, which may have been due to movement in the Philippine Trench. According to earthquake-report.com, there was a power blackout in the cities of Carrascal and Cantilan in Surigao del Sur. Power was restored some two hours later.

Aftershocks are expected, said earthquake monitoring body Phivolcs (Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology). Government officials are thus warning residents to be prepared in case evacuation is needed.

Aside from the two earthquakes, four milder ones were recorded by Phivolcs yesterday, all in Mindanao. Three were recorded on March 4, as of press time.

06:36 a.m.: Magnitude 3.0; Epicenter: 74 km N 21° E of Laoag City
12:54 a.m.: Magnitude 3.7; Epicenter: 10 km N 74° E of Jabonga (Agusan del Norte)
12:03 a.m.: Magnitude 3.4; Epicenter: 10 km N 71° W of Carrascal (Surigao del Sur)

The last relatively strong earthquakes to hit the country were in February.

February 9: 5.3-magnitude earthquake, 30 km south of Laoag City
February 10: 6.6-magnitude earthquake, 356 km south of Jolo; 6.3-magnitude earthquake, 281 km south of Jolo
February 15: 5.7-magnitude earthquake, 119 km west of Basco (Batanes)
February 18: 5.0-magnitude earthquake, 9 km west of La Trinidad

Six earthquakes between magnitudes 4 and 4.9 were recorded in the same month. Four were recorded from March 1 until today.

PHIVOLCS Earthquake Intensity Scale

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