MANILA – Two earthquakes with magnitudes 6.8 and 5.6 and epicenters near the municipality of Cagwait in Surigao del Sur were recorded on Monday.
The magnitude 6.8 quake struck 67 km. N northeast of Cagwait at 3:49 a.m. It was 1 km. deep.
Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) Director Teresito Bacolcol said this tremor is not an aftershock of the magnitude 7.4 offshore earthquake that jolted Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur late Saturday.
"It's too big to be an aftershock. It is also farther north from the clustering of the magnitude 7.4 aftershocks," he told the Philippine News Agency.
Bacolcol, however, said both earthquakes were generated by the movement of the Philippine Trench.
Intensity V was felt in Cagwait, while intensity IV was felt in Tarragona, Davao Oriental; and City of Tandag, Surigao del Sur.
Intensity III, on the other hand, was felt in Iligan City; Cagayan de Oro City; Banaybanay, Lupon and Mati City, Davao Oriental.
Aftershocks are likely, but damage is not expected from the magnitude 6.8 earthquake. Damage starts at intensity VI based on the Phivolcs' scale.
Meanwhile, Phivolcs also logged a magnitude 5.6 earthquake 93 km. southeast of Cagwait at 5:43 a.m. It was 10 km. deep.
There were no reported intensities from this earthquake, and both aftershocks and damage are unlikely, Phivolcs said. (PNA)
