MANILA, Philippines: Residents of Davao Occidental and neighboring areas breathed a sigh of relief as state seismologists dispelled fears of a tsunami following a significant earthquake on Friday. The tremor, measuring a substantial 7.2 magnitude, was located in the waters off Sarangani town, Davao Occidental.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), in a calming advisory, declared that “no destructive tsunami threat exists based on available sea-level data,” providing much-needed reassurance to the local populace. Phivolcs emphasized the absence of a tsunami threat to the Philippines from this particular earthquake.
Despite the absence of a tsunami threat, Phivolcs cautioned that earthquakes of this magnitude might cause “unusual sea level disturbances,” which could be noticeable along the coastlines near the earthquake’s epicenter in Davao Occidental. This natural event occurred at 4:14 pm, with the earthquake originating at a relatively shallow depth of 10 kilometers, 30 kilometers southwest of the affected area.
The announcement has undoubtedly eased concerns among residents and authorities in the region, who remain vigilant for any aftershocks or related natural occurrences.