5.0-magnitude aftershock hits Davao Occidental

July 20 ------ A magnitude 5.0 earthquake struck offshore Davao Occidental yesterday, as an aftershock of the powerful earthquakes that shook the area in June, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.

In its Earthquake Information No. 1, Phivolcs said the tremor occurred at 4:19 p.m., with its epicenter located 40 kilometers southeast of Balut Island in the municipality of Sarangani, Davao Occidental province. The earthquake was tectonic in origin and had a depth of 10 kilometers.

Phivolcs said the quake was an aftershock of the magnitude 7.8 offshore Sarangani earthquake and the magnitude 6.5 offshore Davao Occidental earthquake that struck last month. The earthquake was felt at Intensity II (slightly felt) in General Santos City.

Instrumental monitoring also recorded Intensity III (weak) in General Santos City. Phivolcs did not expect damage from the earthquake but said aftershocks may continue.

Source: mb.com.ph