Magnitude 6.0 earthquake hits General Luna, Surigao Del Norte —PHIVOLCS

A magnitude 6.0 earthquake jolted General Luna, Surigao Del Norte Friday morning, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) said.

In an earthquake information, PHIVOLCS said the earthquake occurred 13 kilometers from General Luna town at 7:03 a.m.

Damage and aftershocks are expected following the earthquake, PHIVOLCS said.

The earthquake was initially reported as magnitude 6.2 before PHIVOLCS downgraded it to magnitude 6.0.

The earthquake was tectonic in origin and had a depth of focus of 28 kilometers, according to PHIVOLCS.

PHIVOLCS said the following reported intensities were felt in different areas:

Intensity V

• General Luna, Claver, Pilar, Placer, San Benito, San Isidro, and Socorro in Surigao del Norte
• Basilisa, Cagdianao, Dinagat, and San Jose in Dinagat Islands

Intensity IV 

• City of Butuan
• Burgos, Del Carmen, San Francisco, Santa Monica, Sison, City of Surigao, and Tagana-an in Surigao del Norte
• Libjo and Tubajon in Dinagat Islands
• Anahawan, Hinunangan, Hinundayan, Liloan, Limasawa, Pintuyan, Saint Bernard, San Francisco, San Juan, San Ricardo, and Silago in Southern Leyte
• Bayabas, Carmen, Hinatuan, Lanuza, and Lingig in Surigao del Sur
• Talacogon and Prosperidad in Agusan del Sur

Intensity III 

• Abuyog, Alangalang, Bato, City of Baybay, Burauen, Dagami, Dulag, Hilongos, Hindang, Inopacan, Javier, Macarthur, Mahaplag, Matalom, Palo, Santa Fe, Tanauan and Tolosa in Leyte
• City of Tacloban
• Bontoc, Libagon, City of Maasin, Macrohon, Malitbog, Padre Burgos, Sogod and Tomas Oppus in Southern Leyte
• Nasipit in Agusan del Norte
• Tubod in Surigao del Norte
• Cagwait, Marihatag, and City of Tandag in Surigao del Sur

Intensity II

• Naval in Biliran
• Ormoc City
• Albuera, Babatngon, Calubian, Capoocan, Carigara, Isabel, Jaro, Kananga, Leyte, Matag-Ob, Merida, Palompon, San Isidro, Tabango, Tunga, and Villaba in Leyte
• City of Malaybalay in Bukidnon
• City of Cagayan de Oro
• Laak, Maco, Monkayo, and New Bataan in Davao de Oro
• City of Tagbilaran in Bohol
• Balangiga in  Eastern Samar
• Mambajao in Camiguin

Intensity I

• City of Bislig in Surigao del Sur
• Garcia Hernandez, Dimiao, Lila, Candijay, and Sevilla in Bohol

Classes and work in government offices were suspended in parts of Surigao following the earthquake.

PHIVOLCS, meanwhile, said the Philippine Trench generated the magnitude 6.0 earthquake in Surigao del Norte.

According to PHIVOLCS, the Philippine Trench is an oceanic trench, or long, narrow depressions on the ocean floor. These are also the deepest parts of the ocean. 

PHIVOLCS chief Dr. Teresito Bacolcol earlier said trenches are capable of generating earthquakes with strength higher than magnitude 8.

“Trenches generally are capable of generating great earthquakes. When we say great earthquakes, these are earthquakes greater than [magnitude] 8,” Bacolcol said.

A total of 113 aftershocks have been recorded so far from the Surigal Del Norte Quake

PHIVOLCS said none of the recorded aftershocks were felt. The strength of the aftershocks ranged from magnitude 1.2 to 4.4.

The Philippines has recently been hit with major earthquakes which left several people dead and thousands injured.

Last week, a magnitude agnitude 7.4 and 6.8 double earthquakes hit offshore Manay, Davao Oriental. 9 people died in those earthquakes, which affected over 1 million people. 

Meanwhile, 79 people died in the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that hit Cebu just over two weeks ago. —VAL, GMA Integrated News