2 mild quakes hit North Cotabato, day before quake drill

Makilala, North Cotabato (Wikipedia maps)

KIDAPAWAN CITY, North Cotabato – A day before the national earthquake drill, two mild quakes hit North Cotabato towns in a span of two hours, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.

In a bulletin, Phivolcs said the first quake, which took place at 7:39 a.m. in Makilala town, was recorded at magnitude 3.5.

The tectonic quake was traced 16 kilometers east of Makilala and had a depth of 16 kilometers, the Phivolcs said.

It was felt at Intensity 3 in Makilala and Intensity 2 here. Intensity 3 means people indoors would feel the shaking but people outdoors would hardly feel it.  Intensity 2 means only people on the upper floors of buildings would feel the shaking.

The second tremor, at magnitude 2.9 occurred at 8:39 a.m. and was traced 19 kilometers east of Makilala. It was also tectonic in origin, Phivolcs said.

There had been no reported casualties or damage in the two quakes.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council will spearhead Thursday a nationwide earthquake drill.  SFM