A powerful magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Davao Oriental at 9:43 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 10, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).
The tremor was initially reported at magnitude 7.6 before Phivolcs revised it to 7.5 then 7.4.
Phivolcs said the quake’s epicenter was located 44 kilometers northeast of Manay, Davao Oriental, at a shallow depth of 20 kilometers.
In its Earthquake Information No. 2, Phivolcs reported the following intensities across affected areas:
Intensity V (strong) – Hinunangan (Southern Leyte); City of Gingoog (Misamis Oriental); Nabunturan (Davao de Oro); City of Davao (Davao del Sur); Santa Maria (Davao Occidental); City of Kidapawan (Cotabato); Alabel and Malungon (Sarangani); City of Koronadal and Tupi (South Cotabato)
Intensity IV (moderately strong) – City of Cebu (Cebu); Sulat (Eastern Samar); Abuyog, Alangalang, Dulag, and Hilongos (Leyte); Hinundayan, Silago, and Sogod (Southern Leyte); Kalilangan, City of Malaybalay, and San Fernando (Bukidnon); City of Cagayan de Oro (Misamis Oriental); City of Digos, Magsaysay, and Matanao (Davao del Sur); M’lang and Magpet (Cotabato); Glan, Kiamba, Maitum, and Malapatan (Sarangani); Banga, Polomolok, and Tampakan (South Cotabato); City of General Santos (South Cotabato); Columbio and Palimbang (Sultan Kudarat); City of Cabadbaran (Agusan del Norte); City of Surigao (Surigao del Norte); City of Bislig (Surigao del Sur).
Phivolcs said the earthquake was tectonic in origin, caused by the movement of an active fault near the area.
The agency warned of possible damage and aftershocks.
This earthquake comes just over a week after Cebu province experienced a magnitude 6.9 tremor on Sept. 30, which killed at least 72 people, displaced more than 20,000 residents, and caused widespread infrastructure damage. (Ellalyn Ruiz)
