By Jim Lloyd Dongiapon
A strong earthquake jolted some areas in Visayas and Mindanao at around 6:44 PM on Wednesday, February 1.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) released a bulletin at 6:55 PM, and it recorded the strength of the tremor as magnitude 6.1, and its epicenter is located at New Bataan, Davao de Oro.
Intensity III, or a “weak” earthquake according to PHIVOLCS’ intensity scale, was reported in Davao City.
The city’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO) has reported no structural damage as of 7:20 PM today.
However, the office confirmed that at least 10 students from two different schools in the city fainted during the earthquake. Davao City DRRMO said the students have already been attended to by emergency responders.
Meanwhile, the instrumental intensities are as follows:
Intensity V (Strong) – Nabunturan, Davao de Oro
Intensity III (Weak) – Kidapawan City, Cotabato; Alabel, Sarangani; Tupi, South Cotabato; Bislig City, Surigao del Sur
Intensity II (Slightly Felt) – Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte; Libona and Malaybalay, Bukidnon; Don Marcelino, Davao Occidental; Abuyog, Leyte; Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Oriental; Malapatan, Glan, Kiamba, Sarangani; Norala, General Santos City, Koronadal City and Tampakan, South Cotabato; Tandag, Surigao del Sur
Intensity I (Scarcely Perceptible) – Alamada, Cotabato; Baybay and Dulag, Leyte; Maitum, Sarangani; Suralla, Santo Nino, T’Boli, and Tantangan, South Cotabato; Saint Bernard, Southern Leyte; Columbio, Sultan Kudarat; Surigao City, Surigao Del Norte
Damages and aftershocks are anticipated following the earthquake, according to PHIVOLCS. There was no tsunami warning issued as the quake’s epicenter was inland.