Offshore magnitude 7.1 quake felt in Sultan Kudarat town
A powerful magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck deep in the Celebes Sea off the southern part of the country on Thursday, but no tsunami warning was issued and no damage was expected due to the tremor’s depth, state seismologists said.
The offshore quake hit at 10:13 a.m. and was centered 133 kilometers southwest of Palimbang town in Sultan Kudarat province with a depth of 722 kms, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).
Phivolcs said it was expecting aftershocks but no damage from the quake. The agency did not issue a tsunami warning.
The earthquake was felt across a wide area of southern Philippines, with varying intensities reported in different locations. The strongest shaking, at Intensity IV on the Phivolcs scale, was recorded in Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental.
Intensity III shaking was reported in the City of Mati, Davao Oriental and Glan, Sarangani. Several areas experienced Intensity II, including parts of Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, Cotabato, Sarangani, South Cotabato and General Santos City.
The weakest reported shaking, at Intensity I, was felt in Davao City, parts of South Cotabato and Lebak, Sultan Kudarat.
Instrumental readings also detected varying levels of ground movement. Intensity III was recorded in Don Marcelino and Jose Abad Santos in Davao Occidental, as well as Glan and Malungon in Sarangani. Intensity II was measured in Tagum City, Davao del Norte; Digos City, Davao del Sur; Matalam, Cotabato; and Cotabato City.
The weakest instrumental readings, at Intensity I, were detected in several areas, including Nabunturan, Davao de Oro; Davao City; Kidapawan City, Cotabato; parts of Sarangani and South Cotabato; multiple municipalities in Sultan Kudarat; and Bislig City in Surigao del Sur.
The Philippines, which lies along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” is prone to frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity, being located in one of the world’s most seismically active zones.
