By Marisol Bo-oc | 06:35 PM November 17, 2023
An offshore earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.2 rocked Davao Occidental in the southern Philippines on Friday afternoon, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said.
The tectonic quake occurred 30 kilometers southwest of the said area at 4:14 pm and had a shallow depth of 10 kilometers, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).
Phivolcs initially pegged the quake at Magnitude 7.2.
The following areas recorded instrumental intensity:
Intensity V (strong): Matanao, Davao Del Sur; Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental; Maasim and Malapatan in Sarangani; Banga, Lake Sebu, Polomolok, and Tampakan in South Cotabato
Intensity IV (moderately strong): Magsaysay, Davao Del Sur; City of Davao; Don Marcelino, Davao Occidental; City of Kidapawan, Cotabato; Kiamba, Sarangani; Norala and Tantangan in South Cotabato; Bagumbayan, Columbio, Esperanza, Isulan, Kalamansig, Lebak, and President Quirino in Sultan Kudarat
Intensity III (weak): City of Zamboanga; Nabunturan, Davao De Oro; M’lang, Cotabato; Lambayong, Sultan Kudarat
Intensity II (slightly felt): Molave, Zamboanga Del Sur; City Of Malaybalay, Bukidnon; Kapatagan, Lanao Del Norte; Balingasag and Initao in Misamis Oriental; City Of Cagayan De Oro; Carmen and Pikit in Cotabato
Intensity I (scarcely perceptible): San Lorenzo, Guimaras; City of Talisay, Cebu; City of Dapitan, Liloy and Sindangan in Zamboanga Del Norte; Talakag, Bukidnon; Tubod, Lanao Del Norte; Alamada, Cotabato; City of Cabadbaran, Agusan Del Norte; City of Bislig, Surigao Del Sur
Also, here are the areas where felt intensities were reported:
Intensity VI (very strong): Kiamba, Sarangani; Polomolok, South Cotabato; City of General Santos
Intensity V (strong): Pantukan, Davao De Oro; City of Tagum, Davao Del Norte; Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental; Alabel, Maasim, and Malungon in Sarangani; Banga, Lake Sebu, Tampakan, and Tupi in South Cotabato; City of Tacurong, Sultan Kudarat
Intensity IV (moderately strong): City of Zamboanga; Magsaysay, Davao Del Sur; City of Davao; Banisilan, Kabacan, and City of Kidapawan in Cotabato; Malapatan, Sarangani; City of Koronadal, Norala, and Santo Niño in South Cotabato; Bagumbayan, Kalamansig, Lebak, Lutayan, President Quirino, and Senator Ninoy Aquino in Sultan Kudarat; City of Bislig and Hinatuan in Surigao Del Sur; Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao; City of Cotabato
Intensity III (weak): Kalilangan, Bukidnon; Laak and Nabunturan in Davao De Oro; Aleosan, Antipas, M’lang, Magpet, and Pigkawayan in Cotabato; City of Isabela, Basilan; Jolo, Sulu
Intensity II (slightly felt): Don Carlos and San Fernando in Bukidnon; Maco and New Bataan in Davao De Oro; Carmen, Cotabato
Intensity I (scarcely perceptible): Cabanglasan, Dangcagan, Libona, Malitbog, Manolo Fortich, Maramag, Talakag, and City of Valencia in Bukidnon; Mambajao, Camiguin; Balingasag and Villanueva in Misamis Oriental
Felt intensity is the ground shaking actually felt and reported by the people through the Phivolcs Earthquake Intensity Scale, while instrumental intensity was indicated by the ground shaking intensity measured by the intensity meters in and around the epicentral area.
The tremor was also felt strongly in nearby areas on Mindanao island, including General Santos City and nearby provinces.
State seismologists ruled out the possibility of a tsunami.
“There is no tsunami threat to the Philippines from this earthquake,” Phivolcs announced.
The archipelagic Philippines has frequent seismic activities due to its location along the Pacific “Ring of Fire.”
