Magnitude 6.8 Quake Strikes Off Sarangani; Buildings Damaged In GenSan
Intensity 6, classified as very strong, was felt in Kiamba in Sarangani, Polomolok in South Cotabato and General Santos City.
Buildings were damaged in General Santos City after a magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck off the coast of Sarangani at around 4:14 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 17.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the epicenter of the quake, which was expected to generate aftershocks and cause damage, was monitored 30 kilometers south of Sarangani.
The temblor was initially registered as a magnitude 7.2. It was tectonic in origin and had a depth of focus of 10 kilometers.
It was reportedly felt at Intensity 6, which is classified as very strong, in Kiamba in Sarangani, Polomolok in South Cotabato and General Santos.
Sources from the General Santos City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council confirmed that a number of people were rushed to hospitals after they were injured by debris that fell from tall buildings and ceilings of shopping malls.
Radio reports said patients in hospitals were evacuated due to the shaking.
Videos posted on social media also showed the ceiling of malls in the city swaying while shoppers rushed for cover.
The shaking was felt at Intensity 5 or strong in Pantukan, Davao de Oro; Tagum, Davao del Norte; Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental; Alabel, Maasim and Malungon in Sarangani; Banga, Lake Sebu, Tampakan and Tupi in South Cotabato; and Tacurong in Sultan Kudarat.
Phivolcs said the quake was felt at Intensity 4 or moderately strong in Zamboanga City; Magsaysay, Davao del Sur; Davao City; Banisilan, Kabacan and Kidapawan in Cotabato; and Koronadal, Norala and Sto. Niño in South Cotabato.
The same intensity was felt in Bagumbayan, Kalamansig, Lebak, Lutayan, President Quirino and Senator Ninoy Aquino in Sultan Kudarat; Bislig and Hinatuan in Surigao del Sur; Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao; and Cotabato City.
State seismologists said there was no tsunami threat based on available sea-level data.
”However, earthquakes of this size may generate unusual sea level disturbances that may be observed along coasts near the earthquake epicenter in Davao Occidental,” Phivolcs said.
There was no report of casualties as of Friday night.
The Office of Civil Defense and National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said reports from affected areas were still being collated.
In Davao City, a crane on top of a building under construction collapsed due to the quake. — With additional reports from Michael Punongbayan, Roel Pareño, Diana Lhyd Suelto, Edith Regalado
