Magnitude 6.8 earthquake rocks Davao Occidental

MANILA, Philippines – A magnitude 6.8 earthquake rocked Davao Occidental and other parts of Mindanao on Friday afternoon, November 17, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said in a bulletin.

The earthquake, which was tectonic in nature, struck Sarangani, Davao Occidental, at a depth of 63 kilometers at 4:14 pm.

Phivolcs said damage and aftershocks are expected but there is no tsunami threat.

Phivolcs earlier said that it was a magnitude 7.2 earthquake but later downgraded it to magnitude 6.8. The initial report had set the depth of the earthquake at 10 kilometers but this was revised to 63 kilometers in the updated bulletin.

Reported intensities

Intensity VII – Glan, Sarangani

Intensity VI – City of Koronadal and Polomolok, South Cotabato; City of General Santos

Intensity V – Pantukan, Davao de Oro; City of Tagum, Dabao del Norte; Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental; Alabel, Kiamba, Maitum, Maasim, and Malungon, Sarangani; Banga, Lake Sebu, Tampakan, and Tupi, South Cotabato; City of Tacurong, Sultan Kudarat

Intensity IV – City of Zamboanga; Magsaysay, Davao del Sur; Davao City; Banisilan, Matalam, Kabacan, and City of Kidapawan, Cotabato; Malapatan, Sarangani; Norala, Tantangan, Santo Niño, and T’Boli, South Cotabato; Bagumbayan, Kalamansig, Lebak, Lutayan, Palimbang, President Quirino, and Senator NinoyAquino, Sultan Kudarat; City of Bislig, and Hinatuan, Suriagao del Sur; Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao; City of Cotabato; City of Bayugan, Agusan del Sur.

Intensity III – Kalilangan, Bukidnon; Laak, and Nabunturan, Davao de oro ; Aleosan, Antipas, M’lang, Magpet, and Pigkawayan, Cotabato; Surallah, South Cotabato; City of Butuan; City of Isabela, Basilan; Jolo, Sulu

Intensity II – Don Carlos, and San Fernando, Bukidnon; Maco, and New Bataan, Davao de Oro; Carmen, Cotabato

Intensity I – Cabanglasan, Dangcagan, Libona, Malitbog, Manolo Fortich, Maramag, Talakag, and City of Valencia, Bukidnon; Mambajao, Camiguin; Balingasag, and Villanueva, Misamis Oriental

Instrumental intensities

Intensity VIII – Glan, Sarangani; General Santos City

Intensity V – Matanao, Davao del Sur; Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental; Maasim, Malapatan, Sarangani; Lake Sebu, Tampakan, Polomolok, Banga, South Cotabato 

Intensity IV – Magsaysay, Davao del Sur; City of Davao; Don Marcelino, Davao Occidental; City of Kidapawan, Cotabato; Norala, and Tantangan, South Cotabato; Bagumbayan, Columbio, Esperanza, Isulan, Kalamansig, Lebak, and President Quirino, Sultan Kudarat.

Intensity III – City of Zamboanga; Nabunturan, Davao de Oro; M’lang, Cotabato; Lambayong, Sultan Kudarat

Intensity II – Molave, Zamboanga del Sur; City of Malaybalay, Bukidnon; Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte; Balingasag, and Initao, Misamis Oriental; City of Cagayan de Oro; Carmen, and Pikit, Cotabato

Intensity I – City of Dapitan, Liloy, and Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte; Talakag, Bukidnon; Tubod, Lanao del Norte; Alamada, Cotabato; City of Cabadbaran, Agusan del Norte; City of Bislig, Surigao del Sur

Power outage in Davao Occidental

The chief of the Office of Civil Defense in Davao Region said that the entire Davao Occidental had a power outage following the tremor.

In an interview with Rappler on Friday night, Dayanghirang said the ceilings of the Mangahos Elementary School in Saragani, Davao Occidental, collapsed. Several infrastructure were also damaged in Barangay Butanding in the same town.

He said all local government units in the Davao Region continue to monitor and assess the extent of the quake damage. – With reports from Ferdinand Zuasola/Rappler.com