Quake epicenter (Image grabbed from Phivolcs website)
MANILA – A magnitude 5.4 earthquake shook several areas in the southeastern part of Mindanao on Wednesday morning.
In its 11:03 a.m. bulletin, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the epicenter of the tectonic quake, which occurred 10:02 a.m., was located 145 kilometers southeast of Governor Generoso town in Davao Oriental province with a depth of 59 km.
Intensity III was felt in Jose Abad Santos town, Davao Occidental province; Intensity II in the towns of Malungon and Glan, Sarangani province; Malita town, Davao Occidental; and Intensity I in Malapatan town, Sarangani; and Polomolok town, South Cotabato.
Using an intensity meter that measures ground acceleration, Phivolcs also recorded Intensity I in Davao City, Davao del Sur; Nabunturan town, Davao de Oro; Kiamba, Alabel and Glan towns, Sarangani; General Santos City, Tupi, Koronadal City, Polomolok, South Cotabato; Kidapawan City, Cotabato; and President Quirino and Bagumbayan towns in Sultan Kudarat province.
There were no reported damage but aftershocks are expected.
This region in Mindanao is often jolted by earthquakes as the Philippine Trench and other offshore active faults are located within the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire.
Reported intensity is the traditional way of knowing the intensity based on reports of people who felt the earthquake. Instrumental intensity, on the other hand, is measured using an intensity meter that measures ground acceleration.
Magnitude measures the energy released by an earthquake. (PNA)
