Earthquake swarm in Sultan Kudarat linked to movements along Cotabato Trench

The occurrence of more than 600 small earthquakes in a span of days in Sultan Kudarat may have been caused by movements along the Cotabato Trench, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) on Thursday. 

Dr. Teresito Bacolcol, executive director of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), stated that the earthquake swarm was probably caused by stress slowly being released along the trench.

“The generator of these events is the Cotabato Trench,” he said in a message to GMA News Online.

Bacolcol said that there were no signs right now that the earthquakes were clues of a larger earthquake, but he didn't rule out the possibility.

“It may or may not lead to a larger event... Earthquake swarms do not automatically mean that a stronger earthquake will follow,” he added.

In an advisory on Thursday, PHIVOLCS said it had recorded a total of 633 offshore earthquakes in Sultan Kudarat as of 12 p.m.

Of the 633 earthquakes, PHIVOLCS said that there were 197 plotted earthquakes, while 30 were felt by residents.

The earthquakes, which began on January 19, ranged from 1.4 to 5.2 in magnitude. 

Classes in the Province of Sultan Kudarat and government work in three towns have been suspended until further notice due to the earthquake swarm. —VBL, GMA Integrated News