6.0-magnitude earthquake hits waters off Davao Oriental town

A strong but deep magnitude 6.1 earthquake hits waters off Governor Generoso town in Davao Oriental on Friday, March 8, 2024, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs). Photo from Phivolcs

[UPDATED: 8:04 p.m., March 8, 2024, to reflect the updated magnitude and other details from Phivolcs.]

MANILA, Philippines — A strong but deep magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck waters off Governor Generoso town in Davao Oriental on Friday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.

Based on the Phivolc’s bulletin, the tectonic temblor, which was earlier reported to be 6.1-magnitude, occurred at 5:11 p.m. some 138 kilometers (km) southeast of Governor Generoso. It had a depth of focus of 133 km.

READ: Two earthquakes jolt Davao Oriental — Phivolcs

It warned that aftershocks may follow the deep ground movement.

However, no damage was expected from the temblor, Phivolcs added.

The state seismologist said it recorded the quake at:

• Instrumental Intensity IV in Malungon, Sarangani; Don Marcelino, Davao Occidental
• Instrumental Intensity III in Glan and Alabel, Sarangani; Matanao and City of Digos, Davao del Sur; Tupi and City of Koronadal, South Cotabato; Nabunturan, Davao de Oro
• Intensity II in Magsaysay, Davao del Sur; City of General Santos; Malapatan, Alabel, and Kiamba, Sarangani; Tampakan, Banga, Polomolok, Tantangan, Surallah, and Santo Niño, South Cotabato; Makilala, Cotabato
• Instrumental Intensity I in Tantangan, Lake Sebu, and Norala, South Cotabato; Lebak, Columbio, President Quirino, and Isulan, Sultan Kudarat; President Roxas and M’Lang, Cotabato

READ: Magnitude 5 earthquake jolts Davao Occidental — Phivolcs

It also said that the earthquake was felt at:

• Intensity IV in Malungon, Sarangani; Sarangani and Don Marcelino, Davao Occidental; City of Davao
• Intensity III in City of Digos, Sta. Cruz and Matanao, Davao del Sur; City of Tagum, Davao del Norte; Nabunturan and Pantukan, Davao de Oro; Glan, Sarangani; Tupi and City of Koronadal, South Cotabato; Lutayan, Sultan Kudarat
• Intensity II in Magsaysay, Davao del Sur; City of General Santos; Malapatan, Alabel, and Kiamba, Sarangani; Tampakan and Banga South Cotabato; Polomolok, Tantangan, Surallah, and Santo Niño, South Cotabato
• Intensity I in President Quirino, Columbio, Isulan, Lambayong, and Senator Ninoy Aquino, Sultan Kudarat; Lake Sebu and Norala, South Cotabato

The difference between Instrumental Intensity and Intensity is that the former was detected through Phivolcs’ meter or scales while the former refers to the strength of the ground movement as felt and reported by the affected population.

Friday’s quake came a day after two moderately strong and shallow quakes – 5.0 and 4.8 – struck an hour apart off the coast of Baganga town, also in Davao Oriental, north of the most recent event.

Shallow tremors tend to be strongly felt on the surface and are the ones that cause damage.