GenSan port on lockdown after N. Cotabato quake

MANILA, Philippines — The Port of General Santos was put under lockdown after a 6.3-magnitude quake hit North Cotabato and nearby provinces on Wednesday night, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) said.

READ: Magnitude 6.3 quake jolts parts of Mindanao

According to PPA general manager Jay Santiago, the port will be on lockdown though there is no material damage to port facilities to “make sure that all persons are safe.”

Operations are also suspended until Thursday morning “to give way to a thorough inspection of all structures inside the port.”

“Although there are no material damage to port facilities per initial assessment, Port of Gensan/Makar wharf is on lockdown,” Santiago said in a text message shared by the Department of Transportation.

“We are making sure that all persons are safe and that the integrity of structures are ascertained first,” he added.

The quake hit 23 km west of Makilala town, North Cotabato, at 7:37 p.m.

It had a depth of 2 km.

The following instrumental intensities were reported:

Intensity VII

Kidapawan

Intensity V

Tupi, South Cotabato

Alabel, Sarangani

Intensity IV

Kiamba, Sarangani

T’Boli, South Cotabato

General Santos City, South Cotabato

Intensity III

Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental

Gingoog, Misamis Oriental

Intensity II

Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental

Intensity I

Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte

Bislig City, Surigao del Sur

Meanwhile, a 5.5-magnitude quake, which is an aftershock from the quake that hit North Cotabato, was reported in Sultan Kudarat. #

READ: Aftershock: Magnitude 5.5 quake hits Sultan Kudarat

/atm