Magnitude 5 quake hits Davao Occidental town

DAVAO CITY — A magnitude 5.1 earthquake hit the town of Sarangani in Davao Occidental this afternoon of Good Friday about the same time that Catholics were commemorating the Passion of Jesus Christ in churches across the country.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivols) reported that the tremor, which was tectonic in origin, was recorded at 3:29 p.m.

The epicenter was located 155 kilometers southeast of Sarangani at a depth of 33 kilometers.

The earthquake was felt at Intensity 1 in General Santos City and Tupi, South Cotabato; and in the towns of Alabel and Kiamba in the province of Sarangani, the Philvocs bulletin said.

Philvolcs said no damage was reported but aftershocks were to be expected. /lzb