Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 2) — State seismologists have lifted a tsunami alert after a massive magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck the waters off Hinatuan town in Surigao del Sur on Saturday night.
The tremors were felt northeast of Hinatuan at 10:37 p.m. Its depth of focus was just eight kilometers deep, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.
The agency updated the quake to magnitude 7.4 early Sunday morning, after its initial reading of magnitude 6.9.
Immediately after the quake, Phivolcs warned of tsunamis expected to hit the affected areas between 10:37 p.m. and 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, but canceled its warning at 3:23 a.m. on Sunday.
A series of aftershocks were detected following the initial quake.
A magnitude 2.9 quake was felt in the waters off Hinatuan at 11 p.m. Another magnitude 3.3 quake was felt six minutes later.
Early Sunday morning, the agency reported the following major aftershocks:
Magnitude 6.1 at 12:03 a.m., magnitude 5.1 at 12:19 a.m., magnitude 5.7 at 12:53 a.m., magnitude 6.2 at 1:40 a.m., magnitude 5.0 at 1:55 a.m, and magnitude 5.2 at 3:36 a.m.
As of 3:40 a.m. on Sunday, Phivolcs said it has recorded over 40 aftershocks.
Shaking was felt in the following areas:
Intensity VII (destructive) – City of Tandag, Surigao del Sur
Intensity VI (very strong) – City of Bislig, Surigao del Sur
Intensity V (strong) – City of Cagayan de Oro; Nabunturan, Davao de Oro; City of Davao
Intensity IV (moderately strong) – Duero and Garcia Hernandez, Bohol; City of Mandaue; Alangalang, City of Baybay, Burauen, Dulag, Hilongos, Jaro, Javier, Julita, La Paz, Macarthur, Mahaplag, Mayorga, Palo, Pastrana, Santa Fe, Tanauan, and Tolosa, Leyte; City of Tacloban; Anahawan, Bontoc, Hinunangan, Hinundayan, Liloan, Limasawa, Malitbog, Padre Burgos, San Francisco, San Juan, Silago, and Sogod, Southern Leyte; Alabel and Malungon, Sarangani; Tupi, South Cotabato; City of Surigao, Surigao del Norte
Intensity III (weak) – City of Tagbilaran, Bohol; Leyte, Leyte; City of Dapitan, Zamboanga del Norte; Molave, Zamboanga del Sur; San Fernando, Bukidnon; City of Kidapawan, Cotabato; Glan, Kiamba, Maasim, and Malapatan, Sarangani; Banga and City of Koronadal, South Cotabato; City of General Santos; President Quirino, Sultan Kudarat; Datu Odin Sinsuat and Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao; City of Cotabato
Intensity II (slightly felt) – Argao, Cebu; Calubian, Leyte; City of Dipolog, Zamboanga del Norte; Santo Niño, South Cotabato; Esperanza and Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat
Intensity I (scarcely perceptible) – Lake Sebu, South Cotabato
The following instrumental intensities and machine-recorded shaking were detected in these areas:
Intensity V (strong) – Hinunangan, Southern Leyte; City of Gingoog, Misamis Oriental; Nabunturan, Davao de Oro; City of Cabadbaran, Agusan del Norte
Intensity IV (moderately strong) – Abuyog, Dulag, and Hilongos, Leyte; San Fernando, Bukidnon; City of Digos and Magsaysay, Davao del Sur; City of Davao, City of Davao; Alabel and Malungon, Sarangani; Tupi, South Cotabato; City of Surigao, Surigao del Norte; City of Tandag, Surigao del Sur
Intensity III (weak) – Argao, Cebu; Quinapondan, Eastern Samar; Carigara, Javier, Kananga, and Leyte, Leyte; City of Catbalogan, Samar; San Juan, Southern Leyte; Kadingilan, Kalilangan, Libona, City of Malaybalay, and Maramag, Bukidnon; Balingasag, and Magsaysay, Misamis Oriental; City of Cagayan de Oro; Matanao, Davao del Sur; Don Marcelino, Davao Occidental; Banisilan, City of Kidapawan, Magpet, and President Roxas, Cotabato; Glan, Kiamba, and Maitum, Sarangani; Polomolok and Tampakan, South Cotabato; City of General Santos
Intensity II (slightly felt) – City of Tagbilaran and Talibon, Bohol; Danao City and City of Talisay, Cebu; Can-Avid, Eastern Samar; Burauen, Calubian, Isabel, Palo, and Villaba, Leyte; Rosario, Northern Samar; Basey, and Villareal, Samar; Padre Burgos, Southern Leyte; City of Dapitan, Zamboanga del Norte; Molave, Zamboanga del Sur; Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte; Initao, Misamis Oriental; Alamada, Carmen, and Pikit, Cotabato; Maasim, Sarangani; Norala, Santo Niño, and Surallah, South Cotabato; Bagumbayan, Columbio, Esperanza, Isulan, Kalamansig, Lambayong, Lebak, and President Quirino, Sultan Kudarat; City of Cotabato
