Magnitude-6 earthquake felt in parts of Mindanao—Phivolcs

phivolcs.dost.gov.ph

MANILA, Philippines—A magnitude-6 quake jolted parts of Mindanao Sunday night brought about by the movement of a trench beneath the sea off Sultan Kudarat.

But the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said that the tectonic earthquake was too deep to trigger a tsunami.  It had a depth of focus measured at 556 kilometers, the Phivolcs said.

Phivolcs science research assistant John Paul Fallarme told the Philippine Daily Inquirer that the earthquake shook portions of Mindanao at around 7:04 p.m. Sunday, with its epicenter at 195 kilometers southwest of Palimbang town in Sultan Kudarat.

It was felt at Intensity III in Malita, Davao del Sur, and at intensity II in Davao City.  Intensity III means many people inside their homes or buildings will feel the shaking and hanging objects can be seen swinging, but people outside may not feel the movement. Intensity II means a few people at rest or on the upper floors of tall buildings will feel the shaking.

Fallarme said that it could have been barely felt in other portions of Mindanao because of the tremendous depth of the quake’s origin.

“A quake of a higher magnitude and a shallower depth could trigger a tsunami. This earthquake is too deep and it is hard for us to identify which trench moved because of its depth,” he said.

A magnitude-6 earthquake is usually considered a strong earthquake that may cause considerable damage in a heavily populated area. Magnitude is the

the amount of energy released by the earthquake.

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Magnitude 6.0 quake hits Sultan Kudarat