Magnitude 7 earthquake strikes off Davao Occidental

MANILA, Philippines – A magnitude 7 earthquake struck off Davao Occidental on Wednesday, January 18, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said in a bulletin.

The earthquake, which was tectonic in nature, struck at 2:06 pm, at a depth of 67 kilometers.

Phivolcs initially reported a magnitude 7.3 earthquake but this was later downgraded to magnitude 7.

Phivolcs said there was no tsunami threat to the country following the tremor.

Phivolcs seismologist John Deximo said that there were no sea level changes observed following the earthquake, and the situation was continuously being monitored.

Recorded intensities

Intensity II – City of Zamboanga; Mawab, Davao de Oro; Carmen, and City of Panabo,
Davao del Norte; Don Marcelino, Jose Abad Santos, Malita, Santa Maria, and Sarangani,
Davao Occidental; Banaybanay, Governor Generoso, Lupon, and City of Mati, Davao Oriental;
Alabel, Glan, Kiamba, Maasim, Maitum, and Malungon, Sarangani;
Banga, City of Koronadal, Polomolok, Tampakan, and Tupi, South Cotabato;
City of General Santos; Bagumbayan, Kalamansig, Palimbang, and President Quirino, Sultan Kudarat

Intensity I – Maco, and Monkayo, Davao de Oro; City of Tagum, Davao del Norte;
City of Digos, Kiblawan, Malalag, Padada, Santa Cruz, and Sulop, Davao del Sur;
City of Davao; Lake Sebu, and Surallah, South Cotabato; Columbio, and Isulan, Sultan Kudarat

Instrumental intensities

Intensity II – Nabunturan, Davao de Oro; City of Kidapawan, Cotabato; Glan, and
Kiamba, Sarangani; City of Koronadal, Polomolok, Santo Niño, T’Boli, and Tupi,
South Cotabato; City of General Santos

Intensity I – City of Zamboanga; City of Davao; Maasim, and Maitum, Sarangani;
Lake Sebu, Norala, Surallah, Tampakan, and Tantangan, South Cotabato; Isulan, Sultan Kudarat

Responding to questions from the media, Phivolcs confirmed that the earthquake was the same one recorded by Indonesia’s geophysics agency that afternoon, off North Sulawesi province. No tsunami threat was also detected there. – Rappler.com