GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Aug. 5 — A magnitude 5.9 earthquake rocked Sarangani province and its neighboring areas on Saturday morning but no casualty or damage has been reported.
A report released by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the quake occurred at about 8:30 a.m., with the epicenter traced 8 km. northwest of the coastal town of Malapatan, Sarangani.
It was tectonic in origin or due to the movement of tectonic plates, and its depth was measured at 74 km.
Serafin Ramos, Sarangani provincial information officer, said there was no tsunami alert issued for the coastal areas of the province as a result of the quake, which was felt at Intensity 5 in the area.
Citing an advisory from the Sarangani Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), he said they have not yet received any report on related damages.
He said the municipal DRRM offices of Malapatan, Glan and Alabel are still conducting field assessments in line with the incident.
Phivolcs said the temblor was also felt at Intensity 5 in the municipalities of Malapatan and Alabel in Sarangani, and in this city.
It was recorded at Intensity 4 in Digos City, Davao del Sur and Kiamba, Sarangani; and Intensity 3 in Davao City and Lebak, Sultan Kudarat.
The agency said it expects further aftershocks in connection with the quake.
In late April, three persons, including a pregnant woman, were injured while several government buildings, houses and other private structures were damaged in parts of Sarangani and this city due to a magnitude 7.2 earthquake that hit the area.
The quake’s epicenter was recorded at 53 km. southwest of Sarangani town in Davao Occidental. (AVE/PNA)
