Magnitude 7.1 quake shakes Governor Generoso in Davao Oriental, nearby provinces

An earthquake of magnitude 7.1 struck off the coast of Governor Generoso, Davao Oriental early Thursday morning, PHIVOLCS reported.

Earlier, PHIVOLCS reported that the epicenter was off the coast of Mati City, also in Davao Oriental, with a 7.3 magnitude.

The quake, which occurred at 1:46 a.m., was at a depth of 39 kilometers and tectonic in origin.

The earthquake was felt in the following areas:

• Intensity V - Governor Generoso, City of Mati, Baganga, and Lupon, Davao Oriental; City of Tagum, City of Panabo, Carmen, and Nabunturan, Davao del Norte; General Santos City; Alabel, and Malungon, Sarangani.
• Intensity IV - City of Davao; Kiblawan, Davao del Sur; City of Koronadal, Tampakan, Tupi, and Polomolok, South Cotabato; Glan, Malapatan, and Kiamba,
• Sarangani; Monkayo, Davao de Oro
• Intensity III - Kabacan, Cotabato; Bayugan, Agusan del Sur
• Intensity II - Cagayan de Oro City; Maasim, Sarangani; Arakan and Banisilan, Cotabato
• Intensity I - Mambajao, Camiguin Island

PHIVOLCS also reported that damage to infrastructure is expected as well as aftershocks

"No destructive tsunami threat exists based on available data," he agency posted.

No major damage reported so far

National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council executive director  Ricardo Jalad said that no major damage due to the earthquake has been reported so far in the affected areas although some buildings sustained minor cracks.

“Well, sa ibang sources may mga kaunting crack sa ibang building but not that much. Looks like wala namang nangyayari na nakakatakot like collapse of building,” he said.

(Based on some sources, there were minor cracks in some buildings but they were not serious. Nothing that can make a building collapse.)

No one was reported hurt so far, Jalad also said.

Jalad noted that there is no official report from affected local government units yet.

Citing information from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, the Department of Transportation said Mati Airport in Davao Oriental sustained minor cracks on the runway.

"Full assessment for Mati is ongoing," it said.  -- with Joviland Rita/BAP, GMA News