Aftershocks rattle Mindanao as Davaoeños rock on despite quake
PHOTO courtesy of PHIVOLCS-DOST/FB
DAVAO CITY — A magnitude 5.0 earthquake struck off Balut Island in the municipality of Sarangani, Davao Occidental, early Saturday, the latest aftershock of the magnitude 7.8 offshore Sarangani earthquake that struck on 8 June, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).
The tremor occurred at 4:07 a.m. and was felt at Instrumental Intensity 1 in T’boli, South Cotabato, and Intensity 2 in the Sarangani towns of Kiamba, Malungon, Malapatan and Maasim.
Phivolcs said the quake was part of the continuing aftershock sequence generated by the 8 June earthquake.
The agency also recorded several weaker tremors on Saturday: a magnitude 3.5 quake at 5:08 a.m., a magnitude 2.7 at 6:11 a.m., a magnitude 2.6 at 9:32 a.m., a magnitude 1.8 at 9:59 a.m., and a magnitude 3.4 at 10:22 a.m., all in areas off Davao Occidental, Davao del Sur and Sarangani.
The aftershocks came less than a day after a magnitude 6.6 earthquake shook parts of Mindanao at 7:34 p.m. Friday. Despite the tremor, thousands of fans remained at the Crocodile Park grounds in Davao City to watch performances by OPM bands Parokya Ni Edgar, Kamikazee, December Avenue, and rappers Skusta Clee, Flow G and Kiyo.
“The speakers were so loud, we never even felt the earthquake,” said Leonard, 25, who traveled from Kidapawan City for the concert.
Parokya Ni Edgar frontman Chito Miranda also thanked the crowd for staying despite the quake.
“To everyone here in Davao tonight, despite the earthquake earlier, thank you for staying and joining us for this concert,” Miranda told the audience in Filipino.
Phivolcs reported the magnitude 6.6 earthquake was felt at Intensity 3 in Davao City and Matanao, Davao del Sur; Intensity 5 in Kiamba, Sarangani; Intensity 4 in Don Marcelino and Sta. Maria, Davao Occidental; and Intensity 2 in Digos City, as well as Monkayo, Mawab and Maragusan in Davao de Oro.
No injuries or untoward incidents were reported during the concert, which concluded shortly after midnight as the final leg of a three-city tour that also included Iloilo and Cebu.