Second quake with 5.6 magnitude strikes near same area

MANILA (5th UPDATE)—A magnitude 7.2 earthquake hit off Davao Oriental at 11:39 a.m. Saturday, PHIVOLCS said in an advisory, as it warned of strong currents and sea level changes in the Philippine Sea.

The government agency said the quake hit 170 kilometers southeast of Governor Generoso town in Davao Oriental, a temblor of tectonic origin and traced to a depth of 54 kilometers.

Aftershocks are expected, said PHIVOLCS.

A second quake with a 5.6 magnitude was recorded in Davao Oriental at 5:12 p.m., hours after the first temblor rocked the province, PHIVOLCS said in a separate advisory.

The quake was downgraded from its initial measurement of 5.9 magnitude.

Intensity II was felt in Manay, Davao Oriental, while Intensity I was reported in Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental; Kiamba and Alabel, Sarangani; Tupi, South Cotabato; and General Santos City.

No damage and aftershocks were expected, the agency said.

Below are areas where the 7.2 quake was felt:

Intensity V:

• Governor Generoso, Davao Oriental
• Glan, Sarangani
• Koronadal City

Intensity IV:

• General Santos City
• Tupi, South Cotabato
• Alabel, Sarangani
• Kiamba, Sarangani
• Mati City and Manay, Davao Oriental
• Davao City

Intensity III:

• Makilala, North Cotabato
• Valencia City and Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon
• Cagayan De Oro City
• Maitum, Sarangani
• Tagum City
• Mabini, Compostela Valley
• Tacloban City
• Palo, Leyte

Intensity II:

• Kadingilan and Don Carlos, Bukidnon
• Tagoloan and El Salvador City, Misamis Oriental
• M'lang, North Cotabato
• Surallah, South Cotabato

Intensity I:

• Zamboanga City

A United States Geological Survey (USGS) report earlier placed the quake at magnitude 7.2 but downgraded it to 7.0, locating its epicenter at 83 kms east southeast of Pondaguitan.

In a separate advisory, PHIVOLCS warned of "minor sea level disturbances" such as "strong currents and rapid rise and fall of seawaters" expected in coasts near the epicenter of the quake.

PHIVOLCS lifted the advisory at 3 p.m.

It told residents to brace for tsunami waves of "less than one meter above the normal tide levels."

"Posible pong walang tsunami pero puwede rin pong magka-alon na puwedeng umabot sa dalampasigan. Sana wala. Pero bilang pag-iingat, nagpalabas po tayo ng advisory to avoid the beach, sa mga dalampasigan po na nakaharap sa episentro sa Davao Oriental," PHIVOLCS Director Renato Solidum told DZMM radio.

(It's possible that there will be no tsunami, it's possible that there might be waves that could reach the shore. Hopefully none. But as a precaution, we issued an advisory [for people] to avoid the beach, shores facing the epicenter Davao Oriental.)

PHIVOLCS said tsunami waves "may not be the largest," but "may continue for hours."

Solidum said the agency would observe movements in the sea after this period.

PHIVOLCS advised residents in the following provinces to "stay away from the beach and not go to the coast fronting Philippine Sea . . . and until the threat has passed":

• Compostela Valley
• Davao Del Norte
• Davao Del Sur
• Davao Oriental
• Davao City
• Sarangani
• South Cotabato
• Agusan Del Norte
• Agusan Del Sur
• Surigao Del Norte
• Surigao Del Sur

It also advised residents whose houses are very close to the shoreline "to move farther inland."

Boat owners should meanwhile secure their vessels and move away from the water front.

"Boats already at sea during this period 12:00 PM to 02:00 PM should stay offshore in deep waters until further advised," PHIVOLCS said.