An intense magnitude-7.1 offshore earthquake hit the town of Palimbang in Sultan Kudarat at 10:13 a.m. on Thursday, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).
The tremor, which was tectonic in origin, was initially measured at magnitude-6.5 and traced to Kalamansig, but Phivolcs upgraded it as more reports came in.
It was located 133 kilometers (km) southwest of Palimbang at a depth of 722 km. State seismologists noted that while there are no damage to properties expected, the public is warned of aftershocks.
The quake was likely caused by the movement of the Cotabato trench, based on the Phivolcs bulletin. Intensities have been reported on the following locations:
Intensity 4 – Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental
Intensity 3 – Mati City, Davao Oriental; Glan, Sarangani
Intensity 2 – Maragusan, Davao de Oro; Tagum City, Davao del Norte; Libungan and Tulunan, Cotabato; Kiamba, Maitum, and Malapatan, Sarangani; Koronadal City, South Cotabato; General Santos City
Intensity 1 – Davao City; Tantangan, South Cotabato; Lebak, Sultan Kudarat
Instrumental intensities were also recorded in the following areas:
Intensity 3 – Don Marcelino and Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental; Glan and Malungon, Sarangani
Intensity 2 – Tagum City, Davao del Norte; Digos City, Davao del Sur; Matalam, Cotabato; Cotabato City
Intensity 1 – Nabunturan, Davao de Oro; Davao City; Kidapawan City, Cotabato; Maitum, Sarangani; T’Boli and Tampakan, South Cotabato; Bagumbayan, Esperanza, Isulan, Kalamansig, Lambayong, and Lebak, Sultan Kudarat; Bislig City, Surigao del Sur
