Metro Manila, Philippines – A magnitude 5.4 earthquake struck waters off the municipality of Sarangani in Davao Occidental at 9:11 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 28, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.
The tectonic quake was centered 11 kilometers west of Balut Island at a depth of 10 kilometers.
Instrumental and reported intensities were logged in the following areas:
• Intensity IV: Sarangani, Davao Occidental
• Intensity III: Alabel and Kiamba, Sarangani; General Santos City; Tupi, South Cotabato
• Intensity II: Digos City, Davao del Sur; Jose Abad Santos, Don Marcelino, and Santa Maria, Davao Occidental; Maasim, Malapatan, Malungon, and Maitum, Sarangani; Lake Sebu and T’Boli, South Cotabato; Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat
• Intensity I: Kidapawan City, Cotabato; Magsaysay and Matanao, Davao del Sur; Koronadal City, South Cotabato; Lebak, Sultan Kudarat
Phivolcs noted that the tremor is an aftershock of the twin magnitude 7.8 and 6.5 earthquakes that struck offshore Davao Occidental in June. The agency does not expect any secondary aftershocks.
Following an earlier magnitude 5.5 earthquake that shook waters off Balut Island at 7:43 a.m., the provincial government of Sarangani suspended work in government offices and in-person classes at all levels on Wednesday.
“The suspension is intended to allow post-earthquake safety inspections and damage assessments to ensure the safety of learners, personnel, and the public,” Sarangani Governor Rogelio Pacquiao said in an advisory.
