Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 17) – A massive magnitude 6.8 earthquake shook the waters south of Sarangani bay in Davao Occidental on Friday afternoon, state seismologists said.
The tremors hit the waters 30 kilometers southwest of Sarangani town at 4:14 p.m., according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).
Damage and aftershocks are expected, the agency warned. However, it said there was no tsunami threat.
In Davao City, a crane atop an ongoing construction site collapsed and fell off the building as shown in videos contributed by netizens to CNN Philippines.
ADVISORY: NO TSUNAMI THREAT TO THE PHILIPPINES
Tsunami Information No.1
Date and Time: 17 Nov 2023 – 04:14 PM
Magnitude = 7.2
Depth = 010 kilometers
Location = 05.37°N, 125.15°E – Offshore Davao Occidentalhttps://t.co/zOLBiIxUH5 pic.twitter.com/XpKawYiQdJ— PHIVOLCS-DOST (@phivolcs_dost) November 17, 2023
It was pegged as magnitude 7.2 in the initial advisory of Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) issued at 4:20 p.m. An hour later, it was downgraded to magnitude 6.8.
Another video showed mall goers in Davao City fleeing from the establishment in a panic, as tremors shook the building.
People were praying, some went under the tables, some shouted while some walked towards the exit of the mall when an earthquake hit Davao City a while ago. pic.twitter.com/vok9LY9obM
— Shirley "Lei" Kimmayong (@STKimmayong) November 17, 2023
Shaking was felt in these areas:
Intensity VI (very strong) – Kiamba, SARANGANI; Polomolok, SOUTH COTABATO; CITY OF GENERAL SANTOS
Intensity V (strong) – Pantukan, DAVAO DE ORO; City of Tagum, DAVAO DEL NORTE; Jose Abad Santos, DAVAO OCCIDENTAL; Alabel, Maasim, and Malungon, SARANGANI; Banga, Lake Sebu, Tampakan, and Tupi, SOUTH COTABATO; City of Tacurong, SULTAN KUDARAT
Intensity IV (moderately strong) – CITY OF ZAMBOANGA; Magsaysay, DAVAO DEL SUR; CITY OF DAVAO; Banisilan, Kabacan, and City of Kidapawan, COTABATO; Malapatan, SARANGANI; City of Koronadal, Norala, and Santo Niño, SOUTH COTABATO; Bagumbayan, Kalamansig, Lebak, Lutayan, President Quirino, and Senator Ninoy Aquino, SULTAN KUDARAT; City of Bislig, and Hinatuan, SURIGAO DEL SUR; Datu Odin Sinsuat, MAGUINDANAO; CITY OF COTABATO
Intensity III (weak) – Kalilangan, BUKIDNON; Laak, and Nabunturan, DAVAO DE ORO; Aleosan, Antipas, M’lang, Magpet, and Pigkawayan, COTABATO; City of Isabela, BASILAN; Jolo, SULU
Intensity II (slightly felt) – Don Carlos, and San Fernando, BUKIDNON; Maco, and New Bataan, DAVAO DE ORO; Carmen, COTABATO
Intensity I (scarecely perceptible) – Cabanglasan, Dangcagan, Libona, Malitbog, Manolo Fortich, Maramag, Talakag, and City of Valencia, BUKIDNON; Mambajao, CAMIGUIN; Balingasag, and Villanueva, MISAMIS ORIENTAL
Meanwhile, these were the recorded instrumental Intensities or machine-detected shaking:
Intensity V – Matanao, DAVAO DEL SUR; Jose Abad Santos, DAVAO OCCIDENTAL; Maasim, and Malapatan, SARANGANI; Banga, Lake Sebu, Polomolok, and Tampakan, SOUTH COTABATO
Intensity IV – Magsaysay, DAVAO DEL SUR; CITY OF DAVAO; Don Marcelino, DAVAO OCCIDENTAL; City of Kidapawan, COTABATO; Kiamba, SARANGANI; Norala, and Tantangan, SOUTH COTABATO; Bagumbayan, Columbio, Esperanza, Isulan, Kalamansig, Lebak, and President Quirino, SULTAN KUDARAT
Intensity III – CITY OF ZAMBOANGA; Nabunturan, DAVAO DE ORO; M’lang, COTABATO; Lambayong, SULTAN KUDARAT
Intensity II – Molave, ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR; City of Malaybalay, BUKIDNON; Kapatagan, LANAO DEL NORTE; Balingasag, and Initao, MISAMIS ORIENTAL; CITY OF CAGAYAN DE ORO; Carmen, and Pikit, COTABATO
Intensity I – San Lorenzo, GUIMARAS; City of Talisay, CEBU; City of Dapitan, Liloy, and Sindangan, ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE; Talakag, BUKIDNON; Tubod, LANAO DEL NORTE; Alamada, COTABATO; City of Cabadbaran, AGUSAN DEL NORTE; City of Bislig, SURIGAO DEL SUR
WATCH: Debris of a crane fall from a building under construction in Davao City as a magnitude 6.8 quake hit Davao Occidental this afternoon.
📹 Jethroy/Facebook pic.twitter.com/kZJCpkTxyK
— CNN Philippines (@cnnphilippines) November 17, 2023
Speaking to CNN Philippines’ The Final Word on Friday, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) Deputy Spokesperson Mark Timbal said they are confirming one report of fatality in Barangay Butuan in the Municipality of Jose Abad Santos.
Timbal added that damaged schools and houses in Sarangani were also reported.
“We will continue to monitor the situation,” the NDRRMC official said. “But if there are any threats, we can assure residents and local government units that they will be receiving warnings in advance.”
