Solidum: No tsunami expected from 5.5-magnitude quake near Sarangani

No tsunami is expected from the magnitude 5.5 quake recorded near Sarangani province in Mindanao, PHIVOLCS director Renato Solidum said Friday.

“Ito ay napakalayo na, mahigit 300 kilometro at ang magnitude na ito ay hindi ganun kalakihan 5.5 kaya hindi rin ito pwedeng magdulot ng tsunami. Kaya wala pong dapat ipangamba ang ating mga kababayan,” Solidum told GMA News TV’s Balitanghali.

In its advisory, PHIVOLCS said the temblor happened at 10:33 a.m. and had a depth of 33 kilometers.

The quake was tectonic in origin and the epicenter was located 334 kilometers southeast of Sarangani.

Solidum said the earthquake was near Talaud Islands, Indonesia but PHIVOLCS needs to record it to monitor ground movements near the Philippines.

“Unang-una ang lindol ay wala na sa sakop ng Pilipinas, ito po ay nasa Talaud, Indonesia. Nirefer lang natin dahil nalo-locate natin ang earthquake sa paligid ng Pilipinas at  kailangang bantayan din ang dagat sa Sarangani province,” he said. — RSJ, GMA News