USGS: Magnitude-5.5 aftershock hits Gensan

MANILA, Philippines - A magnitude-5.5 aftershock hit the General Santos City area before dawn Friday, less than 24 hours after a magnitude-6.1 quake hit the area Thursday. The United States Geological Service (USGS) said the quake was recorded at 2:12 a.m., with the epicenter at 135 km southwest of General Santos City. It said the epicenter was also 215 km south of Cotabato, or 1,095 km south-southeast of Manila; or 2,310 km east-northeast of Jakarta, Indonesia. No casualty or damage was initially reported. On Thursday, a magnitude-6.1 quake rocked General Santos City before noon but state seismologists said no damage or casualty was expected. Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) director Renato Solidum Jr., however, advised residents to anticipate weaker aftershocks. Solidum said the quake was recorded at 11:20 a.m. and was felt at Intensity V at General Santos City, and Intensity III in Kidapawan and Cotabato Cities. The epicenter was 85 km northeast of General Santos City, he added. Solidum also allayed fears of a tsunami. - GMANews.TV