Phivolcs rules out tsunami from magnitude 6 quake

Davao de Oro earthquake. Image from Phivolcs

DAVAO CITY–Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) scientists said the magnitude 6 earthquake that hit New Bataan town of Davao de Oro at 6:44 p.m. on Wednesday, February 1, occurred inland and was not likely to generate a tsunami.

Jeffrey Perez, supervising science research specialist of Phivolcs, made the statement after reports that some people along the shoreline community in Maco, Davao de Oro fled their homes when they reportedly noticed the seawater subsiding after the quake.

“Inland po ang earthquake, wala pong tsunami for this earthquake (The earthquake occurred inland, there’s no tsunami generated in this kind of earthquake),” Perez told a journalists’ viber group Wednesday night.

Phivolcs also said that a magnitude 6.1 quake (later revised as 6.0 magnitude) is not enough to generate a tsunami.

The Maco disaster risk reduction and management office (DRRMO) clarified that there was “no tsunami alert,” and urged the public to listen to advisories from authorities.

Phivolcs traced the epicenter of the quake 14 kilometers northeast of New Bataan town of Davao de Oro, with a depth of focus of 11 kilometers.

The quake which was tectonic in origin was felt at Intensity III in Davao City.