Magnitude 6.1 earthquake hits Davao Occidental

A 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck east of coastal municipality of Jose Abad Santos in Davao Occidental on Thursday night, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS).

The earthquake hit at 9:40 p.m.

PHIVOLCS initially said the magnitude of the earthquake was 6.4. It was downgraded to 6.1 less than hour later.

Intensity III was recorded in Davao City, General Santos City and Alabel, Sarangani, while Intensity II was felt in Magsaysay, Davao Del Sur.

PHIVOLCS said aftershocks are expected.

The earthquake was tectonic in origin and had a depth of focus 47 kilometers.

Five minutes later at 9:45 p.m., another 4.6-magnitude tremblor jolted the same area.

At 9:54 p.m., a magnitude 2.8 earthquake again struck east of Jose Abad Santos.

A third earthquake rocked the same area with a magnitude of 2.7 at 10:11 p.m.

PHIVOLCS said no aftershocks are expected to follow the three weaker quakes.

A state of calamity was earlier declared in the province after the death toll of hogs in the municipality of Don Marcelino climbed to around 5,000 due to African swine fever (ASF).

ASF has also affected 15 barangays in Malita and Jose Abad Santos, according to a Thursday report by Tek Ocampo of GMA Regional TV One Mindanao on GMA News' Balitanghali. Due to this, the culling of hogs in the area began on Thursday. —NB, GMA News