Phivolcs: Surigao del Sur quake at 7.4-magnitude, aftershocks recorded

People gather at an evacuation center, in the aftermath of an earthquake, in Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, Philippines, on December 2, 2023. Hinatuan LGU/Handout via REUTERS

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) raised the strength of the earthquake that struck off Hinatuan to magnitude 7.4 and reported logging several aftershocks in Surigao del Sur early morning on Sunday.

The strong temblor occurred at 10:37 p.m. on Saturday, December 2, and was earlier reported to be at magnitude 7.5. Phivolcs said it was magnitude 6.9, and then changed it to magnitude 7.4 in a bulletin issued at 3:23 a.m. on December 3.

The quake triggered tsunami warnings from authorities in the country and even Japan.

But Phivoilcs lifted the tsunami alert for the Philippines on Sunday morning.

State seismologists said the aftershocks that occurred between 12:03 a.m. and 10:02 a.m. in Surigao del Sur, affecting areas near Hinatuan, Bislig City, and Tandag City, range from 1.4- to 6.2-magnitude.

The perceived shaking intensity was based on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan Seismology of the Michigan Technological University, according to Phivolcs.